We can’t reverse sack of VCs over people’s complaint – Education Minister

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has said the Federal Government is examining the petitions against the appointments of new vice-chancellors for 13 Federal Universities, including the National Open University of Nigeria.
Adamu, made the fact known while answering questions from newsmen on the sidelines of the Inauguration of Annual School Census in Abuja on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the minister recently announced the appointments of the vice-chancellors, an action criticised by stakeholders.
Adamu said government’s pronouncements could not be reversed simply because people protested against them.
He said: “Do you reverse government’s decision simply because somebody has criticised them?
“I do not think there is any decision of government that goes down well with everyone in the country.
“The ministry has received representations from people who feel like this and we are looking at it.”
Meanwhile, Adamu said the essence of the school census lay in the fact that data was needed for proper planning and running of schools.
According to him, the inauguration is being done in all states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Earlier in his address, the Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello, said the annual school census was a foundation upon which planning and policy directions were built.
Bello said the census was required to get updates and comprehensive data in the school systems in terms of infrastructure, number of students, personnel, among others.
He said: “It must be mentioned that the FCT recorded and is still recording the highest spate of influx of people from every part of the country and beyond.
“This has implications for planning for provision of school facilities and personnel as well as for other social amenities in the territory.
“This year marks the eighth year since the Federal Ministry of Education decentralised the activity of annual school census in the country.
“It thus allows every state and FCT to collect, collate and analyse its own school data for decision making, policy design and planning of education activities,” he said.
According to Bello, FCT has 321 public early child care centres, 559 primary schools, 159 junior secondary schools and 61 senior secondary schools.
He said in the private sector, FCT had 554 early child care centres, 2,270 primary schools, 336 junior secondary schools and 186 senior secondary schools.
NAN.