NASS urges Polytechnics and Colleges of Education to focus on developing technical skills for Nigerian economy

Rectors and Provosts of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education have been charged by the Joint Committee on Education with improving technical education and skill development in order to appropriately propel the Nigerian economy.

The committee stated that in order to address the issues affecting teaching and learning in Nigeria’s polytechnics and colleges of education, the legislators in the 10th National Assembly will work in conjunction with the rectors and provosts as well as all other pertinent entities and stakeholders.

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This was revealed when the rectors and provosts of Federal Polytechnics and Colleges of Education came before the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Education for the 2024 Budget Defence. The committee is co-chaired by Senator Dandutse Muntari and Hon. Abubakar Hassan Fulata.

The committee states that whereas the goal of colleges of education is to produce qualified instructors who would have an impact on students’ learning, polytechnic education is focused on providing technical and applied training for Nigeria’s industrial, agricultural, and commercial development.

Professor Idris Bugaje, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), acknowledged the critical role that technical and vocational education plays in the nation’s development, but he raised concern over Nigeria’s failure to meet expectations due to a number of issues.

Among the issues, according to Bugaje, are the lack of facilities and equipment for technical and vocational training as a result of financial constraints.

According to him, the Federal Executive Council has established a framework that would allow holders of ONDs and HNDs to get skill acquisition certificates upon completion of their programme.

Abubakar Tanko, the chairman of the House Committee on Colleges of Education, voiced worry about the low regard that is accorded to education colleges.

He claimed that because NCE holders receive inadequate compensation, the number of students attending the colleges of education on different campuses keeps declining.

The joint committee decided to investigate Colleges of Education’s difficulties closely in order to make sure they could continue to offer degree degrees.