...As NUC approves 27 degree courses
By Victor Nwegede
The Federal College of Education (Technical), Isu, Ebonyi State, has announced 1,500 full scholarships, including free hostel accommodation, for prospective students admitted for the 2026/2027 academic session, alongside the approval of 27 degree programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The Provost of the institution, Dr Francis Nwangbo Azunku, disclosed this on Tuesday during the second town hall meeting between the college management and staff, held at the School of Vocational and Technical Education Hall.
Azunku said the NUC approval, which covers six academic schools, would enable the institution to implement its dual-mandate academic structure, allowing students to obtain both the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and bachelor's degrees in education.
He explained that students would spend three years to earn their NCE and, subject to satisfactory academic performance, proceed for an additional two years to obtain a bachelor's degree.
According to him, the 27 approved programmes would run on a full-time basis at the college's main campus, warning prospective students against falling prey to individuals or groups advertising unapproved part-time, sandwich or outreach-campus programmes.
The approved courses cut across the Schools of Education, Management and Social Sciences, Sciences, Languages, Vocational Education and Technical Education.
They include Early Childhood Education, Guidance and Counselling, Educational Management, Special Needs Education, Political Science, Economics, Social Studies, Civic Education, Biology, Human Kinetics, Health Education, Integrated Science, Chemistry Education, Mathematics Education, Physics Education, Computer Science, Igbo and English.
Others are Home Economics, Agricultural Education, Creative Arts Education, Entrepreneurship Education, Business Education, Building Technology, Electrical and Electronics Technology, Woodwork, Automobile Technology and Metalwork.
On the scholarship initiative, the Provost said management had approved 1,500 full scholarships for students admitted into the institution for the 2026/2027 academic session, adding that beneficiaries would enjoy free tuition, other approved school charges and hostel accommodation.
He said the scholarship slots would be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, citing growing interest in the institution from prospective students within and outside the South-East.
"Our school fees is N35,000, and when we say free scholarship, we mean free everything, not just tuition. We also have free hostel accommodation for the students," Azunku said.
He, however, clarified that the scholarship package did not cover feeding, noting that beneficiaries would be responsible for their personal feeding expenses.
The Provost further disclosed that admission into the institution for the 2026/2027 academic session had commenced and would remain open until January 2027, when the college plans to conduct its matriculation ceremony.
He said candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme were not required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), popularly known as JAMB, explaining that eligible applicants could apply directly, subject to the institution's admission requirements.
Azunku added that candidates with at least four relevant O'Level credits could be considered for provisional admission, provided they fulfilled the stipulated requirements before completing their programmes.
He also said candidates who had previously taken the UTME but failed to secure admission into their preferred institutions could take advantage of the opportunity.
In another development, the Provost announced that the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) had granted the college full accreditation to run the Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) programme.
He said the programme, which had commenced at Abakaliki High School Preschool, had attracted about 100 students as of the preceding Saturday.
According to him, the PDE programme is designed for graduates whose first degrees are in disciplines other than education but who wish to acquire the requisite professional teaching qualifications.
He listed graduates of engineering, medicine, law and other non-education disciplines as potential beneficiaries, adding that successful participants would sit for the TRCN professional qualifying examination to obtain the required teaching licence and certification.
On infrastructure, Azunku disclosed that the college, in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and Gosima Group, would soon lay the foundation for a 240-room hostel project to expand its accommodation capacity in anticipation of increased enrolment.
He said the project was part of broader efforts to strengthen the institution's infrastructure and provide a more conducive learning and residential environment for students.
The Provost, who disclosed that the present management assumed office on March 16, 2026, said the town hall meeting was convened to present its scorecard, explain management policies, address staff concerns and strengthen institutional harmony.
He reaffirmed the college's commitment to maintaining discipline and academic integrity, declaring zero tolerance for cultism, examination malpractice and other forms of misconduct.
"We have zero tolerance for cultism. Our security personnel are always on ground, particularly around the hostel areas, to ensure that unauthorised gatherings and activities do not take place," he said.
Addressing concerns about the institution's capacity to accommodate increased student enrolment, Azunku said management had continued to deploy its TETFund allocations towards infrastructural development.
He disclosed that the college currently operated from its take-off campus and permanent site, both located in Isu, while exploring partnerships with private investors to expand its hostel facilities.
The Provost urged prospective students, particularly indigenes of Ebonyi State, to take advantage of the newly approved degree programmes and scholarship opportunities, describing them as strategic interventions to widen access to affordable tertiary education and strengthen technical and vocational teacher training.
He also appealed to the media to publicise the admission opportunities to enable more qualified candidates across the country to benefit from the institution's academic programmes and scholarship scheme.
