By Tony Obiechina Abuja

Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa yesterday warned principals of Unity Schools in the country against admitting students more than the capacity approved for them.He further warned that any principal who flouts this directive will be removed from office, adding that over-crowding of any school facility in the country is dangerous to the lives of students and teachers alike.

Dr Alausa spoke in Abuja in the company of the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad and Permanent Secretary, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, during a meeting with Principals of Unity Schools. He said “If you admit students beyond the capacity of the school, you will not be Principal the next day.”Overcrowding is dangerous. We cannot subject the life of any child to danger. I am not ready to lose my job for anybody’s carelessness. The President is changing many things in the education sector for the better.In order not to compromise the schools capacity, the Minister said himself and the leadership of the Ministry will not ask for any admission slot.To this end, he said if anybody comes to the school to mention his name, such a slot should not be given as he would not ask for any Minister’s admission slot.Noting that the Federal Government is reinventing the education sector back to what it was before, he said the Unity Schools were set up to be a unifying centre for the country.He also warned that parallel leaderships in schools involving Parents Teachers Association (PTAs) on one side will no longer be allowed.Dr. Alausa said that no Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC) will be recognized going forward, saying that they are not concentrating on the technical aspect as was envisaged.He said they will now be replaced with Federal Technical College (FTC) in order to concentrate on pure technical education.Stressing that a lot of leaders went to technical schools, the situation today has changed from what it was twenty years agoThe Minister assured the Principals that they will have all the support they need under the current dispensationHe said the expectation of President Bola Tinubu is for Nigerian students to get the best quality education just like their contemporaries across the globe.According to him, this has informed the President’s support to the education sector, which he said should be reciprocated by the stakeholders. He urged the Principals to be diligent, stressing that if they don’t get it right, it will not be well for society.Speaking earlier, the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad, informed the Principals that the government can no longer accept things the way they are.She noted that the principals will get their rewards here and hereafter if they shape their students well to better their future as they will get rewards from God and humanity.According to her, the teaching profession has lost its glory because the primary assignment of training the next generation has been neglected.”So be vigilant, dedicated and effective managers of resources,” she stated.While noting that Federal Unity Colleges are grappling with many challenges, she urged the Principals to explore other alternatives to fund the schools apart from budgetary provisions.She urged them to embrace public, private partnerships, engage old students’ alumni, take opportunities of Corporate social responsibility initiatives, community and character contribution, grants and donor funding and they should be proactive and transparent.While commending them for contributions to nation building, she said “The task before us is enormous but not insurmountable”.The Permanent Secretary, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan pointed out that the Minister and the Minister of State are committed to developing the education sector in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.He stressed that the dialogue is timely and essential to share ideas and rub minds that can drive progress in unity schools.The Permanent Secretary charged them to give inputs for new approaches and strategies that can take the schools to new levels of excellence.”So that it can provide a sane and conducive environment for our future leaders. We need you to nurture them to stardom.” he added.