The National Association of Nigeria Colleges of Education Students (NANCES) on Tuesday called for effective implementation of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the country’s tertiary institutions.

National President of NANCES, Mr. Adediwura Adesina made the demand in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said that the colleges of education were yet to benefit from the Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP).

“TSHIP is a scheme designed for students in tertiary institutions which provides insurance cover for students in higher institutions of learning and comes with minimum premium rates which maximises affordable healthcare for students.

“Some schools are yet to know about the scheme but you see some health insurance service providers are parading schools with the aim of providing health services at minimal rates which are not genuine.”

Adesina also called for the sensitisation of Student Union Government (SUG) presidents in all colleges of education across the country to enable them key into the scheme.

“During one of our congresses, 20 students had appendicitis and because the institution had subscribed to the scheme, the students were operated free of charge.

“TSHIP is the only reliable scheme for students in tertiary institutions provided by government to render healthcare services for sick students.”

Besides, he called for the establishment of National Teachers Corp programme for all colleges of education across the country to assist the government in restructuring the education sector.

He said: “National Certificate of Education (NCE) graduates students are lacking behind when it comes to national policy making.

“For instance, we are not included in the NYSC programme and this will not help the education sector.

“We are appealing to the federal government to allow us to go and serve as an advantage to exhibit what we acquired in school.”

Adesina further said that graduates from colleges of education were trained to teach primary and secondary school students in urban and rural areas.

He noted that colleges of education were established to produce the needed teaching manpower for pupils in the country.

The NANCES president said the association had begun a 21-day tour of colleges of education in the country to enlighten students on the multipurpose cooperative society programme under the Students Enterprises Projects (SEP).

He said the proposed Federal Teachers Corps and Student Volunteerism Teaching Scheme were some of the topics to be discussed at the student leaders’ capacity building

“We will be sensitising SUGs leaders and students on the mobilisation of private sectors participation to support infrastructural development.

“This is aimed towards improving the students’ hostels, water and electricity in all colleges of education through Built, Operate and Transfer (BOT-PPP).

“The operation of SUG with sincere accountability, transparency and constructive criticism in line with extant laws are the other discussions to be deliberated upon.” (NAN)

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