The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, clarified on Tuesday that the Federal Government has no intention of selling universities to private investors. This statement was made during the Second Quarterly Engagement of the ministry with heads of units and chief executive officers of parastatals and agencies.
The clarification came in response to accusations from the Academic Staff Union of Universities, which alleged that the government was planning to hand over federal universities to investors through public-private partnerships. Prof. Mamman dismissed these claims, stating that the government is not selling universities to private investors. Instead, the government is pursuing a policy of transnational education.
Transnational education, as explained by Prof. Mamman, involves inviting people from around the world to invest in Nigeria's tertiary education system. This policy aims to open up the higher education sector to global competition and improve its quality. Prof. Mamman emphasized that this does not mean selling universities, but rather allowing international and private sector participation to enhance the education system.
He noted that there are already more private universities in Nigeria than public ones, and the government is keen on leveraging this trend for the benefit of the education sector. By encouraging international institutions to set up in Nigeria, either independently or in collaboration with local universities, the government aims to bring in global standards and additional funding.
The minister highlighted the success of similar policies in other parts of the world, such as Asia, where international institutions have significantly raised education standards and brought financial benefits. Prof. Mamman stressed that the guidelines for transnational education are already in place, and the government is committed to following these guidelines to ensure the initiative's success.
The engagement with heads of agencies and parastatals was part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to review progress, address challenges, and reaffirm its commitment to improving Nigeria's educational landscape. Prof. Mamman reiterated the government's belief in the importance of public institutions and its commitment to necessary reforms to enhance the country's education system.
In summary, the Federal Government's policy is focused on enhancing the tertiary education system by inviting global participation, not selling universities to private investors. This approach aims to make Nigerian universities globally competitive while maintaining their public status.
0 Comments