Federal Government Approves N45,000 Monthly Stipend for Technical College Students Nationwide
The Federal Government has announced the introduction of a monthly stipend of N45,000 for all students enrolled in technical colleges nationwide.
This development was made public by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, during a press conference held at the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja.
According to the Minister, the initiative is part of the government’s efforts to revamp the technical education sector and make it more attractive to young Nigerians.
“The Federal Government is committed to providing quality education to all Nigerians, and we believe that technical education is a critical component of this effort.
“By providing a monthly stipend of N45,000 to technical college students, we hope to encourage more young people to pursue careers in technical fields, which are essential for the country’s economic growth and development,” Adamu said.
The Minister explained that the stipend will be paid to all students enrolled in technical colleges, including those in public and private institutions, and will be disbursed monthly through a special intervention fund.
He added that the fund will be managed by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI).
The introduction of the monthly stipend is expected to have a significant impact on the technical education sector, which has been plagued by low enrollment and high dropout rates in recent years. Many students have been deterred from pursuing technical education due to the perceived lack of job opportunities and low earning potential.
However, with the introduction of the stipend, experts believe that more students will be encouraged to enroll in technical colleges, leading to an increase in the number of skilled technicians and artisans in the country. This, in turn, is expected to boost economic growth and development, as well as reduce the country’s reliance on foreign expertise.
Reacting to the news, the President of the National Association of Technical Teachers (NATT), Comrade Kayode Ogundimu, commended the Federal Government for the initiative.
The introduction of the monthly stipend will not only encourage more students to enroll in technical colleges but will also help to reduce the dropout rate and improve the overall quality of technical education in the country.”
The N45,000 monthly stipend for technical college students is expected to commence in the next academic session, and will be open to all students who are enrolled in technical colleges and are pursuing courses in technical fields such as engineering, technology, and vocational training.
In a related development, the Federal Government has also announced plans to establish a new agency, the National Technical Education Commission (NTEC), which will be responsible for regulating and supervising technical education in the country. The NTEC will replace the existing National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and will have a broader mandate to promote technical education and vocational training.
The establishment of the NTEC is expected to provide a more effective framework for the regulation and supervision of technical education, and will help to ensure that technical colleges and other institutions providing technical education meet the required standards.
The introduction of the monthly stipend for technical college students and the establishment of the National Technical Education Commission are expected to have a significant impact on the technical education sector, and will help to promote economic growth and development in the country.
