The former Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Dr. Muhammad Nuru Yakubu, has called for the reversal of the current enrolment quota into tertiary institutions.
He said it gives undue advantage to universities over polytechnics.
He advocated for a policy to ensure increase in number of students admitted into polytechnics and technical colleges, saying it will reduce admission pressure on universities.
Yakubu made the call at a lecture held in honour of the former rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Dr. Raheem Adisa Oloyo.
Speaking on the title: “Re-Engineering Polytechnic Education in Nigeria To achieve a Paradigm Shift in Nigeria’s Development Agenda,” Yakubu insisted that Nigeria cannot attain economic development with the abysmal quota of enrollment of students into polytechnics and technical colleges in the country.
He added that without a sound Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in place, the “economic future of Nigeria is doomed.”
Yakubu also called on National Universities Commission (NUC) and the NBTE to begin the implementation of the 1990 Chief Gray Longe Commission, which recommended that, “for every student enrolled in the universities, there should be 10 in the polytechnics and colleges of education.”
He said if the commission is implemented, the enrolment of students into polytechnics and technical colleges would increase to over nine million.
He stated further that in 2018/2019 session, only 342, 986 students were admitted into polytechnics and other technical colleges, compared to 1.8 million students admitted into universities.
He noted that, increased enrollment of students in Polytechnics and technical colleges would address the shortage of skilled workers in the country.
Yakubu called on the federal government to make technical education more attractive to Nigerians, through adequate funding and provision infrastructure.
