The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to technical education by fully funding all Federal Technical Colleges across the country. Under the policy, tuition is free, and the government also covers approved charges such as boarding, uniforms, textbooks, exercise books, prospectus, ID cards, stationery, clubs and societies, medical, vocational, utilities, security, website and e-result, Skool Media, extra lessons, and insurance.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, emphasized that the government bears the full cost of tuition to guarantee equal access for all students. He cautioned that no school principal or administrator is permitted to demand unauthorized payments from parents or guardians. According to him, circulars reinforcing the free tuition policy must be sent to all schools and parents to prevent exploitation.
Parents and guardians have also been urged to report any illegal demands directly to the Ministry of Education. The hotline numbers provided are 0803 657 6733 and 0803 637 3796, while complaints can also be sent via email to tse@education.gov.ng.
Dr. Alausa explained that although tuition and core expenses are fully funded by the Federal Government, students who attend Federal Technical Colleges as boarders are expected to provide certain personal items. These include clothing, bedding, toiletries, and other personal needs.
This initiative is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which highlights Technical and Vocational Education and Training as a critical pathway to human capital development. The government believes that by equipping young people with employable skills, Nigeria can strengthen its economic growth and global competitiveness.
“No Nigerian child should be denied access to technical education because of illegal charges. By investing in education today, we are building a stronger, self-reliant Nigeria,” Dr. Alausa stated.
The Ministry of Education has assured Nigerians that monitoring mechanisms are already in place to address any infractions swiftly. Stakeholders have also been called upon to safeguard the policy on free education and to support Federal Technical Colleges in fulfilling their role of producing skilled graduates who will contribute to national transformation.
The list of personal items required for TVET 1 students includes Sunday or Jumat wear with scarf or hijab, bathroom slippers, blanket, white bedsheets, pillowcases, house-coloured bedspread and pillowcase, pillow, cover cloth, towel, underpants or boxers, underskirts for girls, rain boots, rubber shoes, raincoat or umbrella, brassieres, sanitary towels, head belt, plastic bucket, socks, mosquito net, bathing and washing soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, hairbrush, comb, detergent, Dettol, torchlight with batteries, mattress with mackintosh, water bottle, 10-litre keg, cutlery set, plastic cup, stainless plate, soup bowl, padlock, and school shoes.
For registration, each student is also required to provide one ream of A4 paper weighing 80 grams.