NCCE Accredits 19 Programmes, Warns against Operating Illegally in Bauchi

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has warned that any NCE awarding institution running Teacher Education Programmes with expired, failed or zero accreditation is operating illegally and in contravention of its Act.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Paulinus Okwelle, sounded the warning yesterday during the commencement of accreditation visitation exercise at the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Bauchi.

Professor Okwelle, represented by the Director of Academic Programme, Dr. Umar Adamu Kwami, said the commission is mandated to ensure all NCE awarding institutions operate according to established laws towards graduating quality teachers of basic education, hence, the need for them to work in line with the National Certificate in Education minimum standards to avoid sanction or prosecution.

He said during the four-day exercise, 19 NCE programmes, comprising technical education, vocational education, science education, primary education, and early childhood care education under the school of vocational and technical education would be assessed.

The executive secretary used the medium to appeal to the polytechnic to provide all the necessary information required for the smooth execution of the exercise for the development of teacher education programmes.

Earlier, the acting Rector of Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi, Dr Hashim Bello, said being a hybrid institution with varieties of programmes to include degree, NCE, Diploma, and HND, the polytechnic has maintained its standard as one of the best in the North-east sub-region.

Bello said the institution succeeded in training the youths to curtail restiveness and other vices, especially by providing them with skilled manpower in science, technology, commerce and humanities.

He expressed appreciation to the federal and state government, TETFund, NUC, NBTE and NCCE for their continued support and interventions towards the development and advancement of the polytechnic.

The NCCE accreditation exercise which comes up after every five years is expected to assess the level of implementation of the Teacher Education Programmes curriculum, teaching and learning facilities, and administrative and financial management among others.