The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NBTE

  • NBTE to accredit ITF MSTC

    The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) is set to accredit the Industrial Training Fund Model Skills Training Centre (ITF MSCTC).

    Pursuant to achieving its mandate and overcoming the challenges of modern technological advancements, ITF is continually working to ensure its training service delivery, which has led to the NBTE as a regulatory body to inspect and accredit the institute.

    ITF’s Acting Director-General, Dickson Onuoha spoke during an inspection tour of the facility by the NBTE officials in Abuja, stating that the ITF has continued to play a prominent role in human resource development in Nigeria.

    He said: “The ITF has contributed a lot in reducing youth unemployment across the country through its various skills training programmes. One of this is the establishment of Model Skills Training Centre, Abuja.

    “The fund has requested the NBTE as a regulatory body for technical vocational skills institutions in Nigeria to formally inspect the centre resources with a view to giving it accreditation.

  • NBTE approves new institute in Akwa Ibom

    The Federal Government has licensed Maurid Institute of Management and Technology, Oron, Akwa Ibom State, to operate as an innovation enterprise institution.

    This was announced in a letter to its proprietor signed by the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education, (NBTE), Dr. Ma’saud Kazaure.

    According to the letter, admission of students into the approved programmes should commence from 2015/2016 academic session.

    The letter reads: “Please note that this approval is subject to the institution’s strict compliance with the Federal Government’s terms and conditions governing the operations of innovation enterprise institutions.

    “The approval is also subject to you admitting not more than one stream of 30 students for the programme.

    “Admission of students into the approved programmes should commence from the 2015/2016 session, otherwise the approval to commence the programme lapses. Therefore, the admission can only be allowed to take place after a fresh resource inspection visitation has been carried out at the instance of the institution.

    “The approved programme will be due for initial accreditation when the first set of the students are in the third or fourth semester of study.

    “The operational licence of the establishment of the institution will be presented to you at a date to be communicated to you later.”

  • NBTE, OGITECH battle quacks

    The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has praised the Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa (OGITECH) Ogun State, for closing of its satellite campuses and study centres to ensure students get quality education.

    Musa Abdullahi, an engineer, praised the institution when he led a team from the NBTE on a courtesy visit to OGITECH.

    The Ogun State Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujot, who was also in attendance, reiterated the need for stakeholders in education to make concerted effort in the war against operators of other illegal centres which she said are turning out half baked graduates.

    The Rector Dr Olufunke Akinkurolere assured the NBTE Team of the institution’s resolve to expose any centre operating in defiance to the NBTE directives.

    She said Governor Ibikunle Amosun has expended about N40 billion on education in the last five years in the saddle, which has helped to improve the state’s and the country’s economy.

  • JAMB, NBTE take unethical practices battle to South-East, South-South

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) have ended a 3-day workshop for polytechnics and monotechnics in the South-East and South -South regions to fight unethical practices in the institutions.

    No fewer than 20 tertiary institutions in the zones gathered at the Federal Polytechnic Oko, in Anambra state for the three-day workshop which started on Wednesday

    The theme of the workshop was, Restoring Academic Integrity and Engendering Quality Assurance in Polytechnics and similar tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

    Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, was represented by the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Chief Chinedu Emeka.

     

  • We don’t spend recovered stolen money – EFCC

    We don’t spend recovered stolen money – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Tuesday said the anti-corruption crusade body does not spend recovered stolen money.

    EFCC denied the rumour making rounds in an interactive session organized by National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for the anti-corruption crusade body and principal officers, union representatives of polytechnic and specialized institutions in Kaduna.

    EFCC said instead recovered stolen money are been returned to the true owners of the money.

    EFCC equally stated that, it is not true that it spends 1trillion naira as it is been alleged.

    The EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu also used the avenue to sound warning that nobody will be spared in it anti-corruption crusade.

    Represented by his Director Public Affairs Department, Osita Nwanjah, Magu said full weight of the law would be brought to bear on anyone caught found in corrupt practices.

    “I must sound a note of warning to all present, that acts of fraud, corruption and other forms of economic and financial crimes, whether committed by individuals or groups will not be overlooked by EFCC,” he said.

    Similarly and while presenting a paper titled “EFCC: Prevention Activities,” EFCC Head of Enlightenment and Orientation Unit, Hajia Aisha Larai Musa said the public should report any EFCC staff with dubious characters as such staffs will be made to face the full wrath of law.

    She said the commission has put in place preventive measures to check mate the canker worm of corruption in the country.

    “We felt our children lack the moral behaviours as a result of failed parenthood so we put in place programmes such as Youth and school initiative programme where we created integrity group in primary and secondary school created. Among the NYSC members too.

    “We have Faith based initiative where we set up 9-man committee comprising of both religious leaders to preach and discourage participation in the corrupt practices.

    “We have in place too womenCivil society sensitization initiative programme and Public private sector initiative programme such as this between the EFCC and NBTE,” Hajia Musa stated.

    Earlier, in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Dr. Masa’udu Kazaure said the interactive session was borne out of the need to sensitize the principal officers and union representatives of the institutions against the alarming high number of petitions which has generated negative impact on the Education sector.

    “The number of petitions to the EFCC and ICPC in the past two years borders on academic and financial corruption from the Polytechnics. This is alarming high number of petitions has generated negative impact on the sector and has been a cause of concern for the board and the federal ministry of Education.

    “The fora provided very useful information that will assist in ensuring probity and accountability in both academics and administration of the institution, as well as reduce the petitions emanating from the institutions,” Kazaure however said.

  • NBTE accredits six courses at Ekiti private health institution

    The first private health institution in Ekiti State, Fabotas College of Science and Health Technology, Ado-Ekiti has been granted full accreditation by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to run six courses.

    The courses are: Community Health Extension Work (CHEW), Junior Community Health Worker (J-CHEW), Dental Technician, Environmental Health Technology, Environmental Health Technician course, Environmental Health Assistant and Laboratory Technician.

    The college, which opened its doors three years ago, has graduated over 200 students.

    Addressing reporters in Ado Ekiti, its founder and president, Chief Boboye Olanipekun, said FABOTAS was desirous of training students to strengthen health institutions and ensure the sanctity of human life.

    Olanipekun added that the institution had built-state-of-the-art laboratory, a model clinic and other practical-oriented structures to be able to impact proper knowledge in the students.

    He stressed that graduates of the institution are infused with both theoretical and practical experiences, to compete favourably with their counterparts in other institutions in the labour market.

    Olanipekun, a former commissioner for agriculture in Ekiti State, said students have been contributing immensely in developing health sector in the State, through participation in immunisation and other health related programmes organised by the government.

    Olanipekun said: “What I am trying to do is to contribute to manpower development of this country and that we are achieving gradually.

    “Though we have many health experts in Nigeria, but didn’t have the requisite technical knowhow to handle complex situations. This is what we are trying to address.

    “Our students are majorly exposed to practical areas because that is what they would be tasked to do after graduation.

    “Our country needs effective and efficient health personnel and both private and public health institutions must rise to the occasion.”

     

  • NBTE lifts ban

    The temporary ban placed on admission into the School of Engineering of the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State, by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been lifted.

    The Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr Masa’udu Adamu Kazaure, in a letter with a reference number C/TEB/.235/VOL.1A/247, dated September 1, conveyed the lifting of the ban to the Rector of the Polytechnic, Mr Matthew Itopa  Akpata.

    The ban in June followed an allegation of lack of practical coverage and over enrolment of students. The Board immediately set up a fact finding committee to investigate the allegations and implemented its recommendations to lift the ban.

    In the letter confirming the lifting, Dr Kazaure said that the NBTE had appropriately notified the management of JAMB to allow the polytechnic admit qualified candidates into the engineering programmes for the 2015/2016 academic session.

    Rector of the Polytechnic, Mr. Matthew Itopa Akpata, thanked the NBTE for lifting the ban on time.  He assured the board of his management’s commitment to meeting basic standards in all programmes of the polytechnic and creating a conducive environment for teaching and learning.

     

     

    Meanwhile, the Polytechnic has already commenced the process of admission of qualified candidates into the engineering programmes and other programmes in the Polytechnic at both National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels for 2015/2016 Academic Session.

     

  • NBTE chief urges rectors to imbibe Fed Govt’s culture of zero-tolerance for corruption

    NBTE chief urges rectors to imbibe Fed Govt’s culture of zero-tolerance for corruption

    The Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), ) Dr. Masa’udu Kazaure,  yesterday urged  rectors of polytechnics to key into the Federal Government’s policy of zero tolerance for corruption.

    Kazaure spoke in Kaduna at a one-day workshop on carrying capacity for rectors of polytechnics.

     He said  all institutions and the NBTE needed to imbibe the culture of zero tolerance to corruption.

    The executive secretary observed that polytechnics were in the habit of lending lecturers and non-academic staff to fill up the missing gaps.

    “This is not proper. The heads of various institutions should ensure zero tolerance for corruption of this nature. Institutions must strictly adhere to the regulations guiding facilities and carrying capacity. There must be transparency, particularly in the provision of facilities by all institutions,” he said.

    According to him, the essence of the workshop was to brainstorm on how best to expand access and equity in technical and vocational education in tune with international best practices.

    “International best practices provided for 30 students per class in technical and vocational, and 40 for management based programmes, but some institutions are advocating for 70, some even 100.

    “Based on this, we have to come together and look at international best practices, and how to make necessary adjustment without compromising quality,” he said.

    The NBTE boss acknowledged that ‘carrying capacity’ was not easy to fully implement due to inadequacy of higher educational institutions in the country.

    He described ‘carrying capacity’ as“ admitting students into various programmes based on available facilities, such as adequate lecture rooms, well stocked libraries, convenient staff/student ratio, availability of laboratories and equipment, among others.”

    “This policy is aimed at ensuring quality of instruction, as such institutions must not exceed their capacity if doing so will compromise basic minimum standard,” he added.

    Kazaure said  there were currently 556 technical and vocational institutions under the purview of the NBTE.

    “This number is grossly inadequate, considering the unprecedented level of demand for higher education in recent times, and the institutions can only accommodate a fraction of the youths seeking admission,” he said.

  • Key into Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade, NBTE urges

    The Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education, Dr Maz’uid Kazaure, has urged rectors of polytechnics and monotechnics to key into the anti-corruption crusade of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to the NBTE chief, it has become imperative for drivers of  tertiary institutions to be committed to their constitutional roles and support the Buhari government to nip corruption in the bud.

    Kazaure, who gave the charge while delivering a keynote address at the workshop on academic integrity in polytechnics and monotechnics, organised by the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria in Abuja, described the Institute of Management and Technology, (IMT) Enugu, as one of the best in the country having overcome the challenge it faced few years ago.

    According to Kazaure, the entry and exit points of IMT had to be shut with the support of Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Industrial Training Fund (ITF) due to irregularities in its  admission and graduation methods.

    “We discovered that there were no clear records on the number of students admitted into the institute for some period of time. This also showed in the number of students graduating as well because we know the carrying capacity of the institute. So, we decided to look at what the law says regarding our regulatory duty. We got the stakeholders involved and closed the entry and exits points.

    “However, the governor of Enugu state quickly intervened and a new management team was set up for the institution and within a given period, those key issues were addressed and today in terms of integrity and academic excellence, IMT Enugu is one of the best,” Kazaure added.

    He promised that NBTE would not rest on its oars in ensuring integrity and academic excellence in the institutions under its purview. He noted that the body had commenced a clampdown on unapproved institutions in the country.

    He said the increase of unapproved campuses and courses have thrown more challenges on the integrity of programmes and graduates from such institutions. The development, Kazaure noted, has inspired NBTE to partner with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and Independent Corrupt Practice Commission to ensure sanity in the system.

    “I want to state here that the NBTE has been partnering with both the EFCC and the ICPC in fighting financial and non financial corruption within the polytechnic system and inculcating change in our value systems.

    “To this end, interactive fora were held with the EFCC for rectors of polytechnics and provost of specialised institutions as well as senior members of staff of NBTE. Also, the board, in collaboration with the EFCC and ICPC,  has begun monitoring of activities of Anti Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) in federal polytechnics to ensure that they comply with the standing order for the operation of ACTU’s enacted by the ICPC, “ Kazaure said.

    Registrar, JAMB, Prof Dibu Ojerinde exonerated the board over failure of students to secure admission into their choice institutions even when they passed the examinations.

    Ojerinde said the redistribution of students into some institutions other than their first or second choices were done in good faith, adding that whatever lapses that occurred in the process could be addressed as they were not deliberate.

    According to Ojerinde, what JAMB was doing to correct the anomaly was to redistribute such students to other institutions so that the students do not wait for nothing.

    He said JAMB was also taking drastic measures over complaints that some scorers of 296 marks were being relegated while those who scored 180 were being admitted in some institutions. He argued that the issue of academic integrity should begin from what happened at the entry points.

     

  • Still on Polytechnic teachers strike

    Still on Polytechnic teachers strike

    SIR: It is almost a year now that academic activities in federal polytechnics across the country has been halted as a result of the prolonged strike action by the Academic Staff of Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).The most pathetic of all in the unfolding tragedy is the media blackout for the first four months of the strike.

    The major part of ASUP demands is the repeal of the Polytechnic Act and also the implementation of the White Paper of Federal Government Polytechnic Visitation Committee. These two demands are very germane if truly we really need polytechnics that will play a vital role in the educational, scientific and technological progress of Nigeria. Polytechnics are established to train and produce the technical manpower necessary for execution of the nation’s development plans, goals and strategies.

    One other demand of the striking polytechnic lecturers is the establishment of National Polytechnic Commission (NPC). This is because the National Board for Technical Education Act 9 of January 1977, which places Polytechnics under the purview of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has outlived its usefulness. Current demands on polytechnic education require an abrogation of the law.

    But then, the core of the demands of the striking polytechnic teachers is the issue of underfunding. The results of manifest under-funding of our Polytechnics are to be found in the poor maintenance of existing facilities and infrastructures, of crammed spaces and unwholesome learning environment. Today, students contribute money to buy markers, white board, board, chalk and practical materials in their various campuses just as campus hostels are noting to write about.

    Now that the strike is nearing a whole year, Academic Staff of Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) needs to step up the struggle with mass protests to draw attention to the issues; the National Association of Nigeria Polytechnic (NAPS) must be ready to mobilize Nigerian Polytechnic students to compel the government to meet the demands of lecturers. It is only through this we can fight and win the struggle for revitalization of Nigeria Polytechnics.

    • Dimeji Macaulay

    Minna, Niger State.