By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
The National Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics ( ASUP) Anderson Ezeibe has said that some policies of the Federal Government have crippled polytechnic education in Nigeria.
Delivering a keynote lecture on Thursday during a 3 day International conference organized by Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Ikot Osurua in Akwa Ibom yesterday, Ezeibe regretted that government has tactically killed technological education in Nigeria through unfavourable policies .
The chairman listed some of the policies working against polytechnic education to include HND/BSc dichotomy, inability to enhance academic continuity for HND graduates , disparity between HND/BSc holders in government circles among others.
He lamented a situation where Welders were hired from India for Dangote refinery project at the expense of Polytechnic graduates adding that such attitude encouraged capital flight while home grown polytechnic manpower wallop in unemployment.
Ezeibe regretted that the mandate of Polytechnics education has failed over the years as government has not integrated them into national planning especially in the technological development drive.
“Negligence of Polytechnics mandate has resulted in high level of unemployment, poverty and poor entrepreneurship.
“Polytechnics education is not encouraged . In some Polytechnics, students population is less than 1000 while some state governors change their Polytechnics to Universities instead of developing it.
“Government is demarketing Polytechnic education through their policies. The law that established Polytechnic education must be reviewed to meet emerging realities in our nation’s technological development.” He explained.
Ezeibe who was a lead lecturer at the Three day conference urged the FG to integrate polytechnic education to meet the objective of lifting quality life in the sustainable development goals.
“Government should migrate away from monolithic economic model through diversification and promote skills education to meet skill need of the nation.” The chairman said.
He charged all stakeholders in education to work in synergy to mainstream Polytechnic education into the nation’s development plan.
“This will ensure that government pays the right attention to funding Polytechnics, migrate the tertiary level of certification to Bachelor of Technology with National Diploma retained as a feed for Bachelor of Technology.
“Reverse the infrastructure deficits, review curriculum and address issue of staff remuneration to retain qualified personnel as well as restore technical colleges as feed for OND programmes across the nation.” He said.
