The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced its allocation of N1 billion for the construction of hostels in 12 institutions as part of its 2024 intervention cycle.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, made this declaration during a One-Day Workshop on ‘Emerging Areas of Students Needs in Beneficiary Institutions’ held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Echono revealed that the selected institutions include six universities, three polytechnics, and three colleges of education, representing diverse regions across the country.
He added that the earmarked funds will be utilized as equity contributions in collaboration with private developers to address the pressing need for adequate student accommodation.
He said “I am pleased to inform you that Africa Plus Partners, in partnership with Akwa Ibom State University, will commence the construction of a 1,600-capacity student hostel with the support of TETFund on May 15,”
Echono said the Fund was to address the accommodation challenges faced by students.
He highlighted the dire state of existing hostel facilities, calling for the urgent need for intervention.
He stated, “Many of our students are either congested in dormitories or compelled to seek accommodation outside the campus environment.
The current hostels are not only insufficient but also suffer from poor conditions, which adversely affect students’ well-being and academic performance.”
In response to the escalating demand for student accommodation and the government’s limited resources, Echono advocated increased private sector involvement through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to alleviate the accommodation crisis in tertiary institutions nationwide.
Echono addressed the importance of enhancing teaching practice interventions to bolster the quality of education.
He highlighted the role of teaching practice in providing real-time teaching experiences for supervisors and student teachers, thereby refining their pedagogical skills and fostering a positive attitude towards the teaching profession.
Acknowledging recent directives from the Federal Ministry of Education regarding teaching practice support and allowances, Echono stressed the need to revise the funding template in alignment with these recommendations.
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