NUC changes gear on part-time programmes

Contrary to an earlier impression that the National Universities Commission (NUC) has suspended part-time schooling, the regulator has said that it only stopped universities from accepting new students.

NUC’s Executive Secretary, Prof Julius Okojie made the ‘clarification’ during a recent monthly chat with journalists, in Abuja.

“What have we decided to do on part time programme?  We decided to stop for a while, to stop new admission,” he said.

“We will come and do what they call forensic recording in the universities that run part-time programmes.

“If there are 200, 000 students in a school, for example, we will find out if they are qualified to be there, including their teachers,” he added.

Okojie had on June 25 this year announced the suspension of part-time programmes in the universities.

He said “no university should have more than 20 per cent of its student population on part-time”, a policy he said most universities are violating.

“All part time programmes must be located on campus. We do not want satellite campuses anymore,’’ he added.

However, some universities are excluded from the directive, like the University of Abuja, the University of Lagos and the University of Ibadan.