THE Federal Government, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has earmarked a whopping N95.653 billion for intervention in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the country.

Out of this figure, N70.653 billion is the TETFund’s annual allocation to beneficiary institutions, while the remaining N25 billion is for the Special High Impact project in selected tertiary institutions across the six geopolitical zones.

Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, made this known in Abuja, on Tuesday, at the TETFund annual strategic planning workshop with federal and state’s beneficiary institutions.

She noted that the allocation to beneficiary institutions had increased by 46.33 per cent for universities, 44.17 per cent for polytechnics and 72.11 per cent for colleges of education compared to last year.

The minister, however, warned against misapplication of the funds. “In applying the resources, I must emphasise the administration’s zero tolerance for corruption in all ramifications,” she  stressed.   

According to the breakdown, each beneficiary university will receive the sum of N598 million in the normal intervention, each polytechnic has N339.5 million and each college of education will receive N321 million.

She urged the beneficiary institutions to properly prioritise and  to apply the funds directly to add value to teaching and learning.

She advised them to ensure that post-graduate training for academic staff, research and scholarly publications were effected.

On the TETFund special high impact which was introduced in 2009, the minister said the intention was to systematically upgrade the infrastructural and instructional facilities in institutions of higher learning in order to further encourage the training of high level manpower for the nation and the eventual emergence of centres of excellence.

She disclosed that the N25 billion allocated for  special impact programme, was for intervention for 12 institutions across the six geopolitical zones of the country, with each zone having a university, polytechnic or college of education as the case may be.

According to the breakdown, each university is allocated a sum of N3 billion while each college of education and polytechnic will get N1 billion each.

In his address on the occasion, the executive Secretary of TETFund, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, expressed the need for proper planning so as to get the desired outcome in quality education in the country.

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