The Federal Ministry of Education has rolled out a new system for admitting students into Federal Unity Colleges.
The reform comes with a promise of fairness, transparency, and an end to overstretched school facilities. The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, announced the release of the first batch of admissions covering 80 Unity Colleges across the country.
“This reform guarantees fairness, operational efficiency, and sustained quality in our Federal Unity Colleges,” Alausa said during the announcement in Abuja.
The system is fully automated. Admissions are now tied strictly to each school’s approved capacity. That means classrooms, dormitories, and dining halls will no longer be stretched beyond their limits.
Breaking with the Past
For decades, admissions into Unity Colleges were riddled with complaints. Parents often accused officials of manipulation, while schools battled overcrowded facilities.
In some cases, hostels designed for 100 students ended up housing twice that number. Dining halls ran out of food. Laboratories lacked seats and equipment. Teachers were overwhelmed.
Federal Unity Colleges, first created in the 1970s, were designed to foster national unity by bringing children from diverse backgrounds together. But the dream weakened under the weight of corruption and poor planning.
In 2017, a National Assembly report described the schools as “glorified secondary schools” due to neglect. Now, the Ministry says automation will restore the vision.
Director of Senior Secondary Education, Hajia Binta Abdulkadri, called the change long overdue. “The new system ensures that admissions are strictly aligned with school capacity, creating a better learning environment for students,” she said.
Next Steps for Parents and Students
The current exercise covers the Junior Secondary School (JSS1) intake for 80 Unity Colleges. The Ministry added that admissions into 42 Federal Technical Colleges under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme will follow soon.
Parents and students can check admission status through the Ministry’s official website www.education.gov.ng.
According to officials, the automated system also creates a database that allows better planning for infrastructure and teacher deployment. This means future expansions will be based on hard numbers, not guesswork.
The Ministry pledged that no child will be denied quality education because of inefficiency. “Our goal is a safe and conducive environment for every Nigerian child,” the Minister said.
A Step Towards Broader Reform
Nigeria currently has over 10 million out-of-school children, according to UNICEF. Federal Unity Colleges serve less than 5% of the secondary school population, but they remain symbolic as beacons of national integration.
Critics argue that automation alone cannot solve deeper issues such as underfunding, teacher shortages, and poor facilities. Many Unity Colleges still operate with broken furniture, outdated textbooks, and leaking roofs.
Yet, advocates see the new admission process as a start. By plugging loopholes, the Ministry can redirect resources to where they are needed most.
Will automation, as novel as it is, really restore Unity Colleges to the prestige they once held? Or will it only scratch the surface of deeper structural problems? You are invited to share your views below.Rate, Like 👍, Comment💬, share this article, Follow us on our social media handles, and Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
