The Federal Government has officially opened applications for enrollment in Federal Technical Colleges across the country, reinforcing its commitment to providing free technical education and fostering skills development among the youth.
This announcement came from the Federal Ministry of Education after the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, approved the initiative.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, this initiative aligns with the government's comprehensive plan to enhance access to quality technical and vocational education, aimed at equipping young Nigerians with practical skills that meet industry demands.
The statement noted: “Registration for the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) into Federal Technical Colleges will commence on Monday, January 26, 2026, and conclude on Sunday, May 24, 2026. The examination is scheduled to take place nationally on Saturday, June 6, 2026.”
It was emphasized that applications need to be submitted via the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) platform, and that all candidates must have a valid National Identification Number (NIN).
The ministry reiterated that tuition is fully funded upon admission to Federal Technical Colleges, which underscores the government’s ongoing commitment to human capital development, youth empowerment, and increasing productivity at a national level. Admission is available for candidates aged between 13 and 20 years.
In related news, the Federal Government has set up a Book Ranking and Selection Committee to enhance the quality and affordability of textbooks utilized in Nigerian educational institutions.
During the committee's inauguration in Abuja, Dr. Alausa pointed out that the current textbook approval process has failed to adequately assess and rank educational materials, allowing an excessive number of up to 50 approved books for some subjects without established quality standards. This system permitted the presence of inferior materials alongside superior educational resources.
The minister also expressed concerns over the practice of bundling workbooks with core textbooks, which compels parents to purchase new books annually, thus creating financial strain. He called for reforms to ensure quality, transparency, and fairness in textbook selection.
“Your task is both timely and vital,” Alausa remarked. “You are to thoroughly evaluate existing approval procedures, recommend improved assessment methods and ranking systems, establish clear and enforceable quality benchmarks, and suggest strategies to ensure content enhancement prior to approving new editions.”
He added that even though many books could receive approval, “only seven textbooks per subject will be officially ranked for school selection,” and that once a textbook is ranked, it will be in use for a minimum of three years.
The chairperson of the committee, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, who is also the Minister of State for Education, assured the group’s dedication, stating: “As long as a textbook meets the minimum criteria, it gets approved, but there needs to be a benchmark for categorizing its quality as A, B, or C.”
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Prof. Salisu Shehu, indicated that the reform aims to eliminate arbitrary selection of textbooks and ensure that only high-quality instructional materials are used throughout the country.
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