The Rector of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Uwana (AIFPU), Dr Felix Attah, has called on the Federal Government to end the existing dichotomy between university and polytechnic graduates in Nigeria.

The Rector made the call on Friday in Uwana, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi during the 44th matriculation ceremony of the institution held at the polytechnics’ matriculation arena.

Attah, who decried the imbalance said that the most challenging issue in the polytechnic sector was the continuing dichotomy between university and polytechnic graduates and certificates issued to them.

He noted that the disparity had persisted in spite of the federal government’s pronouncements abrogating the dichotomy.

“It is globally acknowledged that the polytechnic is central to technical and vocational education, therefore, polytechnic education should be accorded its priority for national development.

“The only solution is for the federal government to grant polytechnics permission to be awarding degrees in technology; once that is done, the dichotomy will be over because while university is awarding their degrees, we will be awarding ours.

“I believe that with God on our side, the willingness of federal government and the cooperation of the National Assembly, the ongoing processes to amend the Polytechnic Act to expand the scope of polytechnics and create a separate regulator for the sector will be achieved,” he said.

The Rector added that the polytechnic sector in Nigeria was bedeviled with challenges from different quarters as the Nigerian economy struggled to beat negative headwinds caused by dwindling resources for sustainable developments.

“The intervention lines for infrastructure developments in polytechnics are getting leaner in spite of the best efforts of the Tertiary Education Trusts Fund (TETFUND) and other agencies,” he added.

On the recent clamour for the abolition of TETFUND, the Rector noted that without TETFUND that tertiary education would be in ruins and called on President Bola Tinubu not to give ascent to any bill that would seek to abolish the programme.

Attah explained that matriculation ceremony was an important academic ritual to formally induct new students into the hallowed chambers of the institution.

He congratulated the 2,524 matriculants on their admission.

“It is in the matriculation ceremony like today that this polytechnic formally acknowledges to our parents and guardians that the polytechnic has formally taken responsibility of training their children in technical education as well as moulding their characters.

“I earnestly admonish our matriculating students to strictly adhere to the noble principles guiding the conduct of students in the polytechnic.

“These noble principles include honesty, good character and serious mindedness in pursuit of academic excellence.

“We guide our students to be of good behaviours; any student that exhibits anti-social behaviours such as dishonesty, examination malpractice, forgery, cultism among other anti-social activities will be rusticated from the institution.

“We congratulate our parents and students for deeming us worthy partners to the future of their children,” Attah said.

The institution matriculated no fewer than 2,524 students in the 2024/2025 academic session.

They included 1,248 in National Diploma (ND), 1,249 in Higher National Diploma (HND) and 27 students in part time programme. (NAN)

The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Mr Sonny Echono, on Saturday urged both federal and state governments to grant full autonomy to universities.

Echono made the call during a convocation lecture titled, ‘University Autonomy and the Challenge of Quality Tertiary Education in Nigeria,’ held at Federal University, Oye-Ekiti.

He stated that universities, as ivory towers, have three core mandates: teaching, research, and community service.

The TETFUND Executive Secretary argued that to carry out their functions, both federal and state-owned universities must be granted full autonomy, allowing them greater operational freedom.

Echono explained that university autonomy and academic freedom are separate but fundamental aspects of university operations, crucial for maintaining quality education and fostering academic growth.

He highlighted that the government’s current policy on university autonomy does not fully guarantee freedom, as it retains ultimate control through university governing councils.

Echono urged the Federal Government to grant universities more autonomy to enhance infrastructure and foster collaboration with industries, alumni, and other educational institutions.

He emphasised that autonomy enables universities to build stronger networks, improve infrastructure, and collaborate globally to exchange ideas, experiences, and best practices in education.

“University autonomy also provides opportunities for global collaboration, allowing universities to share ideas, research, and effective teaching methods, benefiting the learning process,” he said.

Echono added that university autonomy would lead to enhanced operational efficiency and improved performance, ultimately fostering the development of quality education for national growth.

In response, the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, commended the guest speaker at the university’s 9th convocation ceremony.

Fasina expressed gratitude to TETFUND for its continued support in promoting the university’s development, despite economic challenges.

He assured university stakeholders of his administration’s commitment to improving and promoting quality education at the institution. (NAN)

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has promised to engage stakeholders over the proposed 12-year basic education structure.

Alausa disclosed this during a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

The minister had earlier presented a proposal aimed at transitioning to 12 years of compulsory education within the existing 6-3-3-4 system at the 2025 Extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) meeting.

He explained that the proposal was for discussion and not an immediate policy shift.

Alausa added that a major feature of the proposal was the removal of the examination barrier between the Junior Secondary School (JSS) and the Senior Secondary School (SSS).

He said that the proposal would allow students to progress seamlessly without the need for external assessments at that stage.

The minister said the proposal was, however, still under consultation, and its implementation depended on further deliberation.

According to him, over the next eight months, the ministry will engage in extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including policymakers, state governments, teachers, parents, and others.

Alausa noted that a final decision would be made at the National Council on Education Meeting in October 2025.

The goal of this, he said, was to emulate global best practices in countries like the U.S., the UK, and Ghana, where 12 years of education are made compulsory, leading to improved educational outcomes.

The minister also said that the government was committed to ensuring that the new policy does not disrupt the educational system.

“What we’re saying is that we need to move from what we have now as nine years of compulsory education to 12 years of compulsory education as is obtainable in other parts of the world.

“If you look back into the history of Nigeria, 30 years ago, people that went for primary education got up to standard six.

“If you compare that level of education, the level of instruction, even the standard three then, it’s much better than what we get in JSS three now.

“Today, our quality of instruction and education is falling.

“If we let these kids continue to graduate, if we tell these children that they only have nine years of compulsory education, we’re literally just training illiterates. We’re not preparing them for the future,” he said.

Alausa stated, however, that efforts to improve funding was in top gear, especially for early childhood education.

He added that efforts to strengthen the quality of public schools to equip students with the skills necessary for success in life, whether in further education or the workforce, had been put in place. (NAN)