MINISTER of State for Education, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has attributed the general decline in infrastructure and academic performance of Federal Unity Colleges nationwide to the poor governance attitude of the principals of the schools.Declaring open the Annual General Meeting of principals of the 104 Federal Unity Colleges on Thursday in Kano, Wike regretted that despite the fact that the pass percentage of WAEC and NECO results of the Federal Unity Colleges hovered around 30 percent, the principals have carried on as if nothing was wrong.'For about a decade now, the aggregate credit pass in five subjects and above among students of Federal Unity Colleges in WAEC and NECO examinations have stagnated around 30 percent only, yet principals have carried on as if there is nothing to worry about.'This we can no longer allow to continue, especially in today's climate of heightened expectations. We must do something about the quality of all principals in Unity Schools, knowing that these schools can become centres of academic excellence only when they are managed by people who are educational visionaries, knowledge experts and disciplinarians,' Wike said.He stated that henceforth, the Federal Government would fish for principals who have the capacity to manage the academic activities of the schools alongside relationship with parents, stakeholders and community members to achieve the desired results.Wike announced that the finances available for Federal Unity schools for the development of infrastructure would be increased in 2012, with the principals having the sole responsibility of executing capital projects. He was however quick to add that the principals would be closely monitored to ensure judicious use of the resources.In a goodwill message, Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso described as laudable, the Federal Government's renewed interest in restoring academic excellence to Federal Unity Colleges.Kwankwaso advised principals of the colleges to use the resources meant for capital projects in next year's budget judiciously.House Committee Chairman on Education, Farouk Lawan, in his address, noted that principals of Unity Schools were strategic in the plan to restore the institutions' old glory.
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