Illegal admissions, borrowed facilities: FG unveils new tertiary quality checks

Nigeria's tertiary education system has long been plagued by issues such as inadequate funding, overcrowded programmes, and institutions presenting borrowed lecturers, laboratories, and equipment during accreditation exercises, casting doubt on the credibility of the system. The Federal Government is now addressing these concerns by proposing a comprehensive overhaul of accreditation and quality assurance systems, incorporating digital verification, continuous monitoring, and stricter penalties.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has warned officials responsible for regulatory violations that they may lose their jobs, while private institutions that fail to meet standards could see their licenses revoked. The committee is tasked with reviewing the accreditation processes of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, with the aim of creating a more transparent, tech-driven, and manipulation-resistant system.

Alausa emphasized that institutions should not be able to create a temporary image of their capacity solely for accreditation visits. Furthermore, the reform seeks to shift focus from what institutions declare to what regulators can independently verify. Illegal admissions have also emerged as a major concern, with the Minister revealing that hundreds of thousands of students are admitted into universities outside approved regulatory frameworks, with some institutions admitting over 1,000 additional students beyond their approved capacities.

The government is determined to put an end to these practices, warning that officials and private institution owners who fail to act will face consequences, including job loss and license revocation.