The National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria has hailed the shutting down of 22 illegal colleges of education by the federal government and described it as a timely and necessary step to safeguard students.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NAPTAN, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, made the remark as part of a reaction to the development on Wednesday in Lagos.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu had recently urged the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) to weed out illegal higher institutions.

The NCCE uncovered and shut down 22 illegal colleges of education operating across the country, following the directions of the federal government.

Mr Ogunbanjo declared that the educational audits must continue, saying that children and parents must not keep wasting resources on illegal, unaccredited and fraudulent institutions.

According to him, it’s a good development in the right direction, timely and necessary, which will go a long way in safeguarding students and sanitising the education sector.

He said, “A lot of people may wonder why the number ’22’ but what is the use of attending unaccredited schools or institutions that are not approved by NUC or NBTE? No, it is totally unacceptable. It constitutes a waste of time, a waste of money for parents and a waste of effort for students whose certificates will eventually not be recognised. Imagine graduating and realising that the institution you attended is unrecognised; it will be frustrating, and it is going to be a tough one for many unsuspecting students.’’ 

The NAPTAN official declared that closing the identified institutions was the right step, the right direction, saying it’s a measure that the government must continue to prevent.

He noted that the regulatory bodies did well in discovering the illegality, adding that the effort is commendable, and adding, “This development should send a warning signal to private and public institutions without proper accreditation.” 

(NAN)