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| Prof Darma |
TETFund committees are working round
the clock – Prof Darma
the clock – Prof Darma
By Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu
Abuja
The co-chairman and coordinator of impact assessment ad hoc
committee of TETFund interventions in tertiary institutions, Nazifi Abdullahi
Darma, a professor of Development Economics at the University of Abuja said the
three ad hoc committees inaugurated by the Executive Secretary of Tertiary
Education Trust Fund (TETFund), by Professor Elias Suleiman Bogoro, are working
round the clock in order to achieve a thorough result at the end of their
assignments.
committee of TETFund interventions in tertiary institutions, Nazifi Abdullahi
Darma, a professor of Development Economics at the University of Abuja said the
three ad hoc committees inaugurated by the Executive Secretary of Tertiary
Education Trust Fund (TETFund), by Professor Elias Suleiman Bogoro, are working
round the clock in order to achieve a thorough result at the end of their
assignments.
Professor Darma made this disclosure in an exclusive
interview with Blueprint Newspapers Monday in Abuja.
interview with Blueprint Newspapers Monday in Abuja.
He said many are of the opinion that the committees are not
doing anything because of information lapses between the committees and the
general public.
doing anything because of information lapses between the committees and the
general public.
“As part of reinvigorating forces, Professor Bogoro
inaugurated the three committees in order to refurbish TETFund towards
achieving its mandate of quality education in Nigeria’s tertiary schools.
inaugurated the three committees in order to refurbish TETFund towards
achieving its mandate of quality education in Nigeria’s tertiary schools.
“Number one is the issue of technical advisory group which
is the highest intellectual decision making body. Number two is book
development committee, and research and development committee, which my
co-chairman, professor Placid Njoku, now the deputy governor-elect of Imo
state, chairs.
is the highest intellectual decision making body. Number two is book
development committee, and research and development committee, which my
co-chairman, professor Placid Njoku, now the deputy governor-elect of Imo
state, chairs.
“The third committee is technical technical action
committee on impact assessment of TETfund interventions in 20 years.
committee on impact assessment of TETfund interventions in 20 years.
“What we have done so far is enough but because
of lack of publicity, some people may be constrained to think we
have not been doing anything.
of lack of publicity, some people may be constrained to think we
have not been doing anything.
“Since our inauguration in September last year, we have been
having a series of meetings to define modalities in carrying out our
assignments based on the terms defined by TETFund,” Darma said.
having a series of meetings to define modalities in carrying out our
assignments based on the terms defined by TETFund,” Darma said.
He said with all sincerity, now is the first time a
public sector funded institution in Nigeria is forming an independent
self-evaluation team to assess its activities by outsiders, noting that
such action has been unprecedented in the country.
public sector funded institution in Nigeria is forming an independent
self-evaluation team to assess its activities by outsiders, noting that
such action has been unprecedented in the country.
“This is unprecedented in the history of public expenditure
in Nigeria. With this independent assessment team, we are now about to tell
TETFund where it is performing well so that it could do more and where it is
underperforming so that it can make corrections.”
in Nigeria. With this independent assessment team, we are now about to tell
TETFund where it is performing well so that it could do more and where it is
underperforming so that it can make corrections.”
He said the committees have had several meetings with six to
three members of the technical advisory committees to come out with thorough
work.
three members of the technical advisory committees to come out with thorough
work.
He reassured that the committees have developed
modalities, created a sub-teams which are called core technical team comprising
12 members out of the 53.
modalities, created a sub-teams which are called core technical team comprising
12 members out of the 53.
“We develop a comprehensive work plan for the assignment. We
have developed the tools and instruments for the assignment. We have developed
questionnaires, interview guides and have been having constant discussion
sessions.
have developed the tools and instruments for the assignment. We have developed
questionnaires, interview guides and have been having constant discussion
sessions.
Darma said they were looking at 15 different areas of
TETFund interventions in the last 20 years, adding that the Executive Secretary
told them in clear and unambiguous terms that there would be no hindrance or
interference in their bid to find out the positive and negative impacts of
TETFund interventions in the last 20 years. “Guided by the international best
practice we are using tools developed by World Bank, IMF, African Development
Bank and other international agencies in the assignment.
TETFund interventions in the last 20 years, adding that the Executive Secretary
told them in clear and unambiguous terms that there would be no hindrance or
interference in their bid to find out the positive and negative impacts of
TETFund interventions in the last 20 years. “Guided by the international best
practice we are using tools developed by World Bank, IMF, African Development
Bank and other international agencies in the assignment.
“We have 37 teams, each composed of a team leader and a
research assistant who will guide the team leader. We have other members of
Technical advisory committee who will serve as quality control experts in order
to provide a check to what the two leaders do.”
research assistant who will guide the team leader. We have other members of
Technical advisory committee who will serve as quality control experts in order
to provide a check to what the two leaders do.”
According to the professor of Development Economics, they
want to undertake a thorough job where the research experts and team leaders
will do the administration of the questionnaires to the relevant stakeholders
and come out with valid reliable findings.
want to undertake a thorough job where the research experts and team leaders
will do the administration of the questionnaires to the relevant stakeholders
and come out with valid reliable findings.