EDUCATION STUDENTS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA

PRESIDENCY

PRESS RELEASE.


FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST BE WELL GUIDED FOR EFFECTIVE ACTUALIZATION OF THE EDUCATION STUDENTS BURSARY

Following Mr President's approval for the processing and subsequent payment of the Education Students Bursary of 50,000 and 75,000 to students studying Education in colleges and faculties of education respectively, through the Federal Ministry Of Education, we the students of Education in Nigeria, write to thank His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, for this very thoughtful initiative, targeted towards reviving the teacher-education in the nation.

While this will be the first ever recorded in the history of the education training in the Nigerian state, it's of great concern to all quarters that this gets to all Nigeria students directly studying Education in respective institutions appropriately, thereby serving it's purpose.

As an association, we are vested with the responsibility of standing tall to defend and bring concerns of our members to government's desk, especially such concerns that bother on our collective well-being, with full assurances that our opinions count, and guides government's policies right, it is incumbent upon us and essential that we bring to the public a few challenges that are most likely facing Education students and may possibly hinder the smooth and intended actualization of the bursary payment.

A major challenge is that most Education students in colleges and universities in Nigeria, have not had their, identity cards, which is a major prerequisite as stated in the notice sent by the federal ministry of Education. A good number are already in their 400 levels and 300 level respectively as final year students without these cards. Sadly, there are no possibilities of getting these cards from their institutions as most haven't even begun processing same.

Regarding the notice from the federal ministry of education, the printing of filed forms to be attached with the ID cards and admission letters, haven't been cleared on where they'll be submitted, as the provision simply reads "attach photocopies of following documents: Letter of admission, Current school ID card". There's no directive on where the printed documents and attached, should be submitted. This has raise serious confusion already.

Lastly, while we commend dearly the efforts of Mr president Muhammadu Buhari and the minister of education Mallam Adamu Adamu, we will appreciate government's specification on time frames for the bursary. Whether it has become a major government initiative, not tied to just one administration, will the bursary be paid on a monthly basis, yearly basis or after a number of years, this is for the purpose of detailed clarity, and for further appreciation of this great initiative.

We solicit, that our concerns be carefully considered, as these will guide the appropriate actualization of this project, for its intended purpose of aiding tertiary education for students of education in Nigeria, while furthering in solidarity with the Academic Staff Union Of Universities, that the Federal government resume careful and balanced negotiation with the union, to facilitate resumption of academic activities in Nigeria's federal Universities, for the good of our students, lecturers and country.

Signed:
Sen. Ekemini David
President, ESAN Nigeria.