Kaduna State College of Education (CoE) Gidan Waya, is experiencing a new surge in students’ number as the students’ population jumped from around 5,000 in 2018 to 11,829 for the 2020/2021 academic year.
This has prompted the College Management to get approvals to undertake a recruitment drive for both academic and non- teaching staff which saw an additional 388 newly employed staff set to join the 756 staff on ground.
“This school has seen a surprising rise in interest from Secondary School leavers both in and out of Kaduna State,” said Danladi Mark Aduwu, Head, Information and Public Relations of the College when our Correspondent spoke with him yesterday in Gidan Waya, Jema’a Local Government of Kaduna State.
“KSCOE Gidan Waya was usually a last resort for those seeking admissions into a higher institution around here. In fact, we had to lobby school leavers to apply in the past. But all that has changed when the current Provost, Professor Alexander Kure came on board in 2018,” he said.
“He has been able to get accreditation for all the courses offered here after painstakingly fulfilling the mandatory conditions required by the National Universities Commission for BEd programs offered in affiliation with the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. This was a feat that was not possible to achieve for a long time and is poised to repeat same feat with the NCE programs facing reaccreaditiation,” he said.
“He has relaxed the several unnecessary fees charged on students and created a secured and calm environment for learning,” he added.
“The renewed interest is also coming from the fact that under Governor Nasir el-Rufai, the teaching profession is now more dignified and there is more prospect for getting jobs. And KSCOE Gidan Waya is the place where those interested in the noble profession can become professional teachers and be respected anywhere in Nigeria,” he explained.
“As you can see, there are also huge infrastructural projects going on in the College to the tune of hundred of millions of Naira, because the provost has been able to win back the confidence of funding agencies and other stakeholders in the on going education project of the present government.
“This school used to be the premiere school for training Secondary School and Teacher Training graduates to become qualified teachers in Northern Nigeria. But a lot went wrong. Happily, today we are returning to that status,” he enthused.
According to a break down, the total number of Students of National Certificate of Education (NCE) are 10,686 while those studying for Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) are 1,620.
There are 520 students of Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PDE); 424 who have enrolled for Part Time studies in NCE; 104 for the NCE Weekend program and 75 students that are currently studying for Interim Joint Matriculation Board Exams.
With the newly recruited 388 staff waiting to come on board, the staff strength is for now 444 academic staff and 314 non teaching staff.
From the influx of students into the College and scope of projects on ground, it is obvious that the College needs more funding from the owners of the institution.
The Provost is not, however, sitting and doing nothing about it.
After carrying out extensive rehabilitation of the Old Campus in Kafanchan, which is now a Resource Center to generate funds for the College, more activities have kicked started with small amounts trickling in to augment what government is bringing in.
“Prof Kure tells us to always excercise patience. That His Excellency, Governor Nasir el-Rufai will want to leave lasting footprint in the College because of the revolution he has initiated in the teaching sector.
He says that as long as we work hard and keep to the standard the Governor expects of us, he will surely improve on our funding,” said Aduwu, spokesman of the school.
