NBTE Shuts Down 50 Illegal Polytechnics, Monotechnics

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has closed not less than 50 illegal polytechnics and monotechnics operating without government’s approval across the country.

Executive Secretary of the board, Dr Mas’udu Kazaure, disclosed this in Kaduna on Monday at a meeting between the Board and the national leadership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The NUJ had visited to seek for approval for the commencement of National Diploma and Higher National Diploma at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) being an in-house programme run by the NUJ for training and re-training of its members.

The NBTE Executive Secretary revealed that most of the illegal institutions were operating in contravention of the Basic Minimum Academic Standards as prescribed by law and have been running OND and HND programmes in several satellite campuses across the country.

Dr. Kazaure also disclosed that NBTE was in the process of developing a National Vocational Qualifications Framework that would provide a clear, coherent and comprehensive system of education and training which would be relevant to the needs of public and private organisations and individuals.

He further stated that the programme would also close the gap between institutional training and industry needs, adding that it would revolutionise the provision of skills in the country.

While commending the NUJ for complying with the laid down guidelines and regulations of seeking accreditation for its programmes, the NBTE boss assured the union that the board would soon give approval for the commencement of National Diploma programme in journalism and other related courses at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism being operated by the NUJ .

The NUJ President, Mohammed Garba, thanked the board for its decision to approve NIJ diploma programme, describing its as good news for the union and the journalism profession. He assured the board that the institute shall live up to its expectation.

The National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, was established in 1977 to take care of vocational and technical education outside the university system.

Presently, there are 95 public and private polytechnics and over 100 monotechnics across the country.