Abuja- Prof. Viola Onwuliri, the Minister of State for Education, has cautioned principals of Federal Government Colleges against involvement in bribery and other corrupt practices in admission processes.
Onwuliri gave the warning when she declared a two-day Executive Leadership Training Programme for Federal Government Colleges (FUCS) opened in Abuja on Friday.
She said the principals were representatives of the Federal Government at their various schools and should not constitute stumbling blocks to efforts being made to re-position the education sector.
“I have received petitions against some principals alleging corruption and bribery for admission; they are allegations and will be investigated.
“Any principal found wanting will face the law; the President must get kudos for your actions and not the other way round because you are the eyes of the President in your schools’’, she said.
She explained that the training was of immense importance as secondary education occupied an important place in the education system being the link between the primary and tertiary levels.
Onwuliri said that principals required adequate training and preparation in order to place Nigeria’s education system on the pedestal for qualitative delivery and global competitiveness.
“Manpower development is a necessary tool for improving the capacity of the work force of any organisation.
“Government will equip and improve the standards of our education.
“This is to reverse failures as reflected in the last West African Senior School Examination and regain the confidence of the populace in our schools’’, she said.
According to her, the professional training of school administrators, particularly principals, has not been given the attention it deserves.
She said teaching and school administration were not the same thing; as school administration was an art which must be learnt and mastered.
The minister said that at the end of training, the principals should be able to lead through professional knowledge, discipline, organisational and administrative competence.
Other expectations, according to her, are ability to develop a good policy and put it into effect, skilful delegation of authority, ability to manage students, teachers and examination processes, among others.
Dr MacJohn Nwaobiala, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, said contemporary school administrators played many roles.
He listed some of the roles as agents, instructional leaders, curriculum and assessment experts, budget analysts, facility mangers, and community builders, among others.
He said there was need to expose principals to additional opportunities for professional learning and growth as they worked to improve their managerial capabilities.
A resource person, Dr Rosemary Nwangwu, said principals would be put through leadership dynamics and models in order to select the model most suitable to their environment. (NAN)
