NAPS Calls For Sanctions Against Substandard Private Polytechnics

The Southwest leadership of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has called on the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to look into irregularities among private polytechnics and disaccredit those found to be substandard.

The association noted that some private polytechnics are not qualified to be regarded as standard institutions, noting that certain schools fall below the expected level of even secondary schools.

Addressing a press conference in Osogbo, the newly elected Southwest Zonal Coordinator of NAPS, Ogunsola Adewale, said, “Polytechnics are the bedrock of technical education. We believe in producing something good and presentable. We do not want anything that will stain the image of polytechnic education.”

He stated further that, “As it is in Nigeria, most of the industries we have today are, in one way or another, products of the polytechnic sector. Therefore, we believe in quality education as polytechnic students. We are confident that the NBTE will take necessary steps to address areas of concern and ensure that non-qualified private polytechnics meet required standards.”

Adewale also raised concern over the disparity between polytechnic lecturers and their university counterparts, describing the imbalance as unacceptable.

According to him, the disparity has persisted for too long and continues to undermine the polytechnic system.

He called on the Federal Government to implement equitable welfare structures, proper recognition, and policy reforms for polytechnic lecturers.

Adewale added that anything short of this would send a wrong signal about the nation’s commitment to technical and vocational education.