FG To Scrap Monotechnics, Specialised Institutions

The Federal Government has concluded arrangements to do away with monotechnics and specialised universities in the country, the Minister of Education, Professor Ruqqayatu Rufai has said.
The minister, who said this while presenting licenses to the five newly approved polytechnics and 23 vocational institutions at the NBTE-UNESCO centre, Kaduna State, said before their scrap, the institutions would be encouraged to diversify and expand their programmes to meet the current challenges and needs of the nation’s education sector.

“May I use this opportunity to inform you that the Federal Government has decided that there will no longer be monotechnics or specialised universities, that is universities running single courses. All monotechnics and specialised universities will have to expand and diversify in line with the ongoing reforms in the education sector,’’ she said.

She also condemned the operation of satellite campuses and study centres by polytechnics, saying any institution found wanting in that regard risks losing its license. “It is illegal for any private polytechnic to admit students for any programme that has not been approved by NBTE,’’ she added.

In his address, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Dr. Mas’ud Adamu Kazaure lamented that there were several illegal satellite campuses of polytechnics across the country.

“Many of our institutions are still establishing and operating satellite campuses across the country in violation of the 2001 ban of satellite campuses,’’ he said.

While outlining the programmes of the board, he reiterated the readiness of the board to partner with relevant organisations to promote technical and vocational education in the country.

The five new private polytechnics are Igbajo Polytechnic Osun State; Covenant Polytechnic Abia State; Kings Polytechnic Edo State; Temple Polytechnic Abia State and Heritage Polytechnic in Akwa Ibom State.
Source: Daily Trust – dailytrust.com