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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Federal Government has approved a new policy on transnational education in Nigeria.
Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, made this disclosure to State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
He stated that criteria for implementing transnational education across boundaries have been accepted by the council.
He said this would allow Nigerian institutions to collaborate with foreign institutions to offer education services within Nigeria.
Sununu explained that as a member of the World Trade Organisation, Nigeria is signatory to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) which includes education as an exportable service.
He said the new policy aims to increase access to tertiary education in Nigeria given the large number of secondary school graduates seeking university admission annually.
He said transnational education will ease placement pressures and allow progressive exchange of ideas and research.
He added that it would boost tertiary enrollment and minimise foreign exchange pressures of Nigerians studying overseas.
Sununu stated that transnational education would attract foreign investment and funding to government institutions
“What it means is that exchange of cross fertilisation of ideas exchange that progressive education can be done across borders.
“The documents provide a guideline whereby a foreign institution can collaborate with local institution within the country, or can even come and establish a conference within the country without become widely access of placement in Nigeria and also permit us to increase access in terms of widening the scope of research that is going to be conducted within the country.
“And not only that, economically, the transnational education will establish would decrease the pressure on Dollar as to exchange rate to go out their to secure as an excellent means to secure education.
“And based on this or this justification presented to the council, which has the policy document that was developed by a National universities Commission and the FME, the council graciously note the presentation of the document so that it can be implemented to increase access to tertiary education in Nigeria.”
