By Managing Editor
The Acting Provost, College of Education, Gindiri, Plateau State, Prof. Cletus Gotan, has appealed to Staff of the institution to be united in ensuring development is achieved in the college
The acting provost stated during an interactive session with members of the Plateau State House of Assembly Committee on education told the lawmakers that Governor Simon Lalong ‘s love for educational transformation in the college has led to the resuscitation of the institution from being a shadow of it self to a digital improved College
The acting provost said his appointment as acting provost of the college with his management team in June 2018 have seen tremendous developments in the institution
Prof Gotan Said first among is school’s 28th-33rd combined convocation, where the first civilian governor of the state, the late Chief Solomon Lar; were honoured alongside the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris; and three others an event held at the College Convocation Square, Gindiri.
According to the acting provost on assumption of office he met lots of challenges on ground which include non on-issuance of Students’ ID Card, Financial down turn which made the College highly indebted, Truncated academic activities due to students’ unrest, Non-challant attitude of staff to work as a result of dampened morale, Inadequate and broken/spoiled official vehicles to facilitate work, Broken down/destroyed properties and buildings and some staff personal cars as a result of the students’ unrest,Inability to access Tetfund interventions,Long standing accreditation (15 years)
But have sat down with stakeholders and management to know the issues on ground immediately swing into action and we’re able to achieve the following success within two years on board from June 2018 to May 2020 reopening and resumption of academic activities,Funding – Government’s approved take-off grant of 10 million and ensured that students involved in the 2018 riot paid N10,000.00 Damage Fee, Visits to Tetfund and NCCE to restore relationshin, Management/Staff relationship enhanced,Official College Vehicles repaired and made functional,General repairs and maintenance of broken structures,Successful Accreditation and got full both Institutional and Academic .
In order to Improve on students academic activies reviewed the Students’ Handbook which led to the Resuscitation of the Ventures Unit (Consult), Frequent Management Meetings to address issue, Approval to commence six (6) new Academic Department,Resource Verification to commence Degree Programme ,Addressed the issue of Students’ Identity Card,Resuscitated the Micro-Teaching Laboratory, ICT Centre and subscribed for a dedicated Network,Accessed many TETFund Interventions (e.g., ECCE Complex, Renovation of Lecture Theatre, Journal Intervention, International Conferences, Teaching Practice Intervention, Renovation of Language Block, Library Intervention, Zonal Intervention, Tetfund Scholarships, on-going Construction of ICT Complex, recently submitted Library Intervention of the years 2017, 2018 and 2019, etc),Repairs of Boreholes for Staff and Students,Commencement of Perimeter Fencing,Constitution of various Committees to address issues,Successfully Defended Budgets at the State level,Successful Convocation of Six Sets of Students (2012/2013 – 2017/2018 Sessions) in 2020,Produced and signed backlog of Certificates from 2012 – 2018 including those of some spill-over of previous years review of duty Tower Allowances for staff. Encouraging Staff attitude to work,Paying off some outstanding staff claims, Engaging Union Bank on Overdraft of 14 million with alarming interests,Acquisition of a Transformer and a 250KVA Generator for the College,Liaising with State Water Board to get linked with the Regional Water System situated at Gindiri,Roofing and restructuring of the abandoned Students’ Centre,Successful supervision of Students’ elections,Compensations for damages to staff and properties destroyed during the students’ riot as directed by Government,Resuscitation of the College Clinic by acquiring equipment, medication and a new Ambulance,Introducing and sewing of new uniform for the College Security,Sewing of Students’ Academic Gowns,Instilling discipline on Carry Over and Teaching Practice qualification,Facilitation of Staff Development Processes, enabling staff to go for training and attending conferences/workshops which were suspended,Procured equipment for the production of Identity Card,Facilitated the functionality of Computer-Based Test (CBT) and online Learning Programme,Creating and furnishing of Staff Offices,Facilitated sabbatical arrangement for staff to College and other Institutions,Employment of part-time staff to assist in the newly approved Academic
Departments,Ensuring speedy release of results to students to avoid unnecessary
Carry Over,Reduction of loans collected from College Staff Cooperatives and Bank,Constructed seats for the male students’ hostel.
The team also encountered some challenges which include Union/Management on Teaching Practice allowances.l,Backlog TSA amounting to over 100 million.,College Security/Police Outpost.
While some pending programmes will soon take-off that is Degree Programme,Resuscitation College’s IGR (Fishpond, Poultry, Block Industry, etc),Completion of the Perimeter Fencing,Landscaping and Road-networking,Problem of Intruders into the College Land and Boundary Adjustment,Constitution of a Substantive Management
Member representing Quan Pan north and chairman House chairman on education expressed delight with the level of work done by the acting provost and his management team which has led to developmental strides in the college
While urging stakeholders and staff of the college to collaborate with the provost and his management team to ensure the vision of the Simon lalong administration in the college is achieved.
Nasarawa Reporters 