NBTE to sanction polytechnics offering non-accredited courses

SERIOUS sanctions now await any polytechnic in Nigeria that runs unaccredited courses, engages in illegal affiliation or admits beyond its carrying capacities.

Besides, the Nigerian polytechnic education will before the end of this year, be overhauled to give more emphasis to engineering and technological studies. By this development more preference will now be given to candidates seeking for admission in engineering related courses.

These were the thrusts of the comments of the Executive Secretary of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Dr Masa’ud Kazaure, yesterday at Offa, during the sent forth ceremony for the out gone Rector of the Polytechnic Dr. Mufutau Olatinwo.

Olatinwo, who had spent first two years of his 10years tenure in acting capacity, yesterday completed a two-term of four years each in office.
Kazaure, who disclosed the need for robust contributions of polytechnic to the nation’s economic growth, noted that any institution of learning offering “irrelevant courses” may no longer be a delight of the Federal Government.

Besides, he gave a directive to the authorities of the nation’s polytechnics to ensure a proper symbiotic relationship between the Town and Gown, just as he threatened the closure of any polytechnic devoid of a master plan.
The NBTE scribe said, “Polytechnic should no longer start programmes or affiliation without our approval.

There is a new government in place and we can no longer afford to do things the way we like. We want to advise the polytechnic to please stick to their carrying capacity. It is very crucial and important. We want to urge you all to update your master plan and submit your data at the due date. The change mantra must affect our mode of operations at all times.”

Describing the resuscitation of the nation’s railway system by some Chinese firms as laudable, he said the nation’s polytechnic should redesign its curriculum to enable it churn out in future, technicians and engineers that could develop indigenous technologies that would replace the Chinese.