NAN-H-20
Polytechnics
By Harrison Arubu
Abuja, March 27, 2017 (NAN)The Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Dr Theresa Akande, has advocated increased funding and recognition for polytechnic education in the country.
Akande said this when she featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.
She added that the country’s quest for technological development would remain an illusion if the role of polytechnics in the quest for development was not recognised.
Cue in audio 1 (Akande on funding)
“Unless we build up our polytechnics, the country’s quest for technological advancement will remain a mirage.
“because it is there that you have both the theory and the practical forging a synergy that will give room for technological breakthrough.
“I have seen our students and what they can do. If I tell you what our ICT guys are doing, you will be amazed and these are people who even have limited resources, limited equipment.
“So, the government and the policy makers should place more emphasis on polytechnic education.
“Parity is not the issue. It is giving the polytechnics the deserved recognition, giving them the wherewithal that they need to be able to bring out their latent abilities.
“If that is done, in fact you will be surprised by what Nigeria can achieve and what she can become.’’
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The rector, however, lauded the efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to support the polytechnics.
Akande said the current administration had taken steps to reposition polytechnic education through improved funding, capacity building and ICT development.
Cue in audio 2 (Akande on funding)
“The Federal Government ably led by our President as well as the current Minister of Education and the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) are trying their best to see that polytechnic education is given its pride of place.
“That was why the directive went to TETfund (Tertiary Education Trust Fund) to increase the allocation to the polytechnic sector which they did this time around, and which all of us are going to use judiciously I must add.
“Various training workshops are being organised to empower and build up capacity in the polytechnic. Government is also encouraging ICT in the polytechnic.
“You will be surprised that up to about three years ago this was not taken very seriously, but the current government is encouraging it and building up capacities in that area.’’
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Polytechnic education, which was started in the country in 1930s, was aimed at producing middle level manpower to drive the nation’s economy with focus on technological development.
There are currently 108 registered polytechnics in the country as at December, 2016, as published by NBTE on its website.
A breakdown of the figure shows that 25 polytechnics are owned by the Federal Government, 41 by states with 42 privately owned.
Many stakeholders have blamed the country’s economic predicament largely on neglect of the polytechnic sector over the years.
Key among the challenges facing the sector is poor funding and discrimination against polytechnic graduates in the labour market, rendering them unattractive to bright students.
However, the current Federal Government has taken some steps recently to reverse the situation.
In February, the government disbursed N213.4 billion as 2016 intervention budget to universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education through TETfund.
Out of the sum, 54 public polytechnics got N691 million each, according to the Executive Secretary of TETfund, Dr Abdullahi Balla.
In July, the National Council on Establishment approved the abolition of the dichotomy between university degrees and the Higher National Diploma (HND) awarded by polytechnics.
A bill seeking to provide a legislative framework for the abolition of the disparity recently passed first reading in the House of Representatives. (NAN)
ARU/LAB/YEE
Edited by Lydia Beshel/Emmanuel Yashim
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