The National Board For Technical Education (NBTE), Has Advocated More Funding And Conversion Of 60 Per Cent Of Nigerian Universities And Polytechnics To Bridge The Gap In Skills Deficiency Amongst Graduates.
The Executive Secretary (ES) Of NBTE, Prof Idris Bugaje, Made The Call On Monday In Kaduna At The North-West Zone National Workshop On The Reviewed Entrepreneurship And Skills Development Curricular For Entrepreneurship Educators In Nigerian Polytechnics And Similar Institutions.
The Theme Of The Workshop Was ‘New Approach To Entrepreneurship Curricular Delivery’.
Bugaje, Represented By His Special Assistant, Dr Ibrahim Bashir, Said, “For Every Engineer Produced By A University, He Requires At Least Five Technologists, 10 Technicians And 20 Artisans In Executing Projects.”
He, Therefore, Said That The Artisans And Technologists Were Products Of Polytechnics, Which Called For A Reverse In Funding Process By The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund) To Pump More Funds Into Polytechnics.
“As A Serious Nation And Trying To Do What Is Expected, We Should Be Promoting Skills And Not Theories.
“We Should Be Thinking Of Chunning Out The Skillful Youth Population Out Of Our Higher Institutions.
“Our People Are Always Thinking Of Migrating To Europe And Asia, Some Through Deadly Routes. If Those People Are Well Skilled With The Necessary Certification, They Will Be Given Red Carpet Reception Wherever They Go,”He Said.
Bugaje, Therefore, Wondered Why Nigerians Were More Passionate About Degrees Instead Of Skills.
He Stressed The Importance Of Curriculum, Stating That It Is The Foundation Of Any Good Programme That Wants To Be Created.
Bugaje Said The Present Curriculum Being Administered To Students In The Polytechnics Was Developed In 2007.
According To Him,.There Have Been A Lot Of Changes Over The Years, Where The Mantra Of The NBTE Was Centred On Skills And Not Degrees.
Bugaje Said That The NBTE’s Advocacy On Skills Was Not In Any Way Discouraging Acquisition Of Degrees, But Should Be Complemented By Skills.
-Thenation
