Nigeria Converts Science Schools to Technical Colleges: Inside the Major Education Overhaul
Nigeria is launching a major education shift to tackle youth unemployment. Federal Science and Technical Colleges (FSTC) will become full Federal Technical Colleges (FTC), phasing out science programs entirely for new students. According to NBTE Executive Secretary Prof. Idris Bugaje, this urgent reform targets Nigeria's critical skills gap. The September TransformationStarting this admission cycle: ✅ New students will enroll exclusively in technical programs ❌ Science-based admissions end immediately ⏳ Existing science students complete studies Bugaje explained: "Before, students preferred sciences while technical training was ignored. This smart intervention reverses that trend." Why This Radical Change?Simply put, Nigeria faces a technical education crisis: ⚠️ Only 129 technical colleges nationwide ⚖️ Versus 15,000+ conventional secondary schools 🎯 Polytechnics admit mostly general graduates due to shortages Crucially, President Tinubu approved new infrastructure and equipment to make technical paths attractive. "We’re investing to position TVET as a premier choice," Bugaje emphasized. States Urged to Follow SuitNext, Bugaje challenged state governments: "Convert conventional […]