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| Istifanus Kyakmut, Public Relations Officer, Federal College of Education, Pankshin |
FCE Pankshin: Elaborate
celebrations by matric students not a policy of the College - PRO
By Dickson Gupiya
March 22, 2020
The
elaborate celebration usually done by the newly admitted students of the
Federal College of Education Pankshin, Plateau state North Central Nigeria
during their matriculation is not a policy of the college according to the
Spokesman of the College, Istifanus Kyakmut.
The College has of recent been a subject of discussion over
the elaborate celebration during matriculation by parents of new intakes
during their matriculation.
Findings by this magazine show between N35 and N65 was spent by
each parent to cover transport fares, catering services and other expenses
during this year matriculation. Mode of transportation was scarce within the
Pankshin/Langtang axis on the day of the matriculation ceremony as buses and
taxis are said to have been hired by parents to convey their guests for the
occasion.
Pankshin town was a beehive of activities throughout Friday
last week as celebrations continued after the matriculation ceremony. It is
said that bad blood is often created between parents of the matriculated
students and their neighbours who could not honour their invitations except for
genuine reasons. Some observers’ heap the blames at the door steps of the
college. However, speaking to African
Drum in his office immediately after the 2020 matriculation ceremony last
week, Kyakmut said that matriculation was an exercise to formally accept
students admitted into the institution to commence their various programs
adding that people are attracted to be part of the ceremony and the College
doesn't restrict the number of guests to be invited by the matriculating
students. However, he said the College over time has encouraged students not to
overstretch their parents for their matriculation. “Elaborate celebration by
matriculated students is not a policy of the College. As a College, we try
as much as possible to encouraged students not to overstretch their parents. We
encourage them to understand that it's a ceremony which does not require
elaborate celebration. It's just the beginning and when you celebrate the
beginning in an elaborate manner, how then would you celebrate the end?” asked
the College PRO rhetorically.
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| Kyakmut |
On the challenges encountered during this year matriculation
by the College, Kyakmut said that the only challenge was that the venue of
ceremony which is the college Auditorium could not accommodate the crowd and
the event had to be shifted to the Convocation Square."No much challenges
because the structures are already on ground. We have the admission committee
that handled the preparations.
“We have the academic Planning Division that is part of it.
It's a normal ceremony that has been there for years. The only challenge is
that our Auditorium is small given the number of students for the matriculation so, we had to
shift the matriculation ceremony to the Convocation Square to accommodate large
number of people also taking into account the Coronavirus pandemic which does
not allow for overcrowding”. He said.
On whether the College was still looking forward to
conducting matriculation for the newly admitted students for Bsc programmes
next week in spite of the coronavirus pandemic, the PRO said, “This is a
national issue and we take instructions from the government. We cannot also
violate any law or instruction from the government.
“Our hope is that government should take the necessary
precautions and if they do and say that the closure of the College is part of
it, (like the state government has done), we will comply as we await directives
from the National Commission for Colleges of Education which is our supervisory
body. We would exactly as expected of us”.
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