Associate Prof. Lazarus Maigoro, the Acting Provost, College of Education, Gindri in Plateau, says arrangement has been concluded to commence degree programmes in 23 departments in the institution.
Maigoro disclosed this in an interview with Newsmen on Monday in Jos, adding that the institution would run the programmes as an affiliate of the University of Jos.
”I met a process that has been on for more than six years to run degree programmes in the college as an affiliate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
”When I took over, I applied to the University of Jos for the same purpose and its Dean of the Faculty of Education has recommended to the Vice Chancellor, who in turn recommended it to the university’s curriculum committee for further processing.
”The process has already reached an advanced stage and by the grace of God, we hope to commence 23 degree programmes in no distant time.
”This will also be after the resource verification exercise by the National Universities Commission,”he said.
Maigoro also explained that arrangements were on top gear to secure full accreditation for the 31 existing courses in the institution.
”On assumption of office, I realised that the accreditation status of all our courses have expired over a year ago and this is against the minimum standard of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
”NCCE, our supervisory body has been threatening to sanctions the college, so, I reported to the governor who instructed me to kick start the accreditation process and he provided the funding for that.
”The 27-man accreditation team from NCCE visited us bewteen April 14 and 19, and the outing was particularly impressive owing the support of goverment and the entire staff of the college,”he said.
Maigoro, who decried the declining rate of enrolment in the school, promised to boost it by ensuring the security of staff and students, adding that the introduction of degree programmes would also help in that regard.
”The introduction of degree programmes will also boost enrollment, because more students will apply for the degree programmes.
”With this move, a university degree would have been brought to the door steps of the students, thereby reducing the cost of acquiring degrees substantially,”Maigoro said.
According to reports , Gov. Caleb Mutfwang, had in February appointed Maigoro, a senior lecturer with the University of Jos as acting provost of the college.