The Federal Government has restated its commitment to providing free and accessible technical education for Nigerian children, announcing that all Federal Technical Colleges (FTCs) nationwide are fully funded.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Education, the government emphasized that tuition in FTCs is entirely free, with all approved charges already covered. These include boarding, uniforms, textbooks, exercise books, prospectus, ID cards, stationery, clubs and societies, medical services, vocational training, utilities, security, website and e-result services, Skool Media, extra lessons, and insurance.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, speaking through the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, stressed that no principal or administrator is authorized to impose extra charges on parents or guardians. Circulars reinforcing this directive are to be circulated across all schools and to parents.
Parents have been urged to report any illegal levies directly to the ministry via Hotlines: 0803 657 6733, 0803 637 3796 or Email: tse@education.gov.ng.
Dr. Alausa clarified that while tuition and core expenses are fully funded, students in boarding schools are only expected to provide their personal items. He explained that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a key driver of human capital development.
“No Nigerian child should be denied access to technical education because of unauthorized charges. By investing in education today, we are building a stronger and self-reliant Nigeria,” the minister affirmed.
The ministry also revealed that monitoring mechanisms have been established to promptly address any violations of the policy.
Stakeholders were urged to safeguard the free-education programme and support FTCs in their mandate of producing skilled graduates for national growth and transformation.
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