The National President, Association of Private Polytechnic Founders/Rectors in Nigeria, Pastor Bassey James has disclosed the association’s move to clampdown on illegal Polytechnics littered the country especially, Akwa Ibom State.
The President stated this on Tuesday in Uyo Akwa Ibom State capital in a media briefing marking the maiden matriculation of his Polytechnic, Southern Atlantic Polytechnic which will be held on Saturday, June, 26, 2021.
Pastor James who decried the indiscriminate proliferation of Polytechnics in the State, said the association has written to both the National and State Assemblies intimating them of the ugly incidence even as he had met with some of the perpetrators of the illegal business and had given them a timeline to turn a new leaf.
He said considering the way the association is moving, in the next one year, illegal Polytechnics would be eradicated in the State.
James who called for restoration of sanctity in the educational system noted that if the issue remained unchecked, the effect would be the churning out of half baked graduates in the society with nothing to offer adding that such was a crime against humanity as well as the society.
He however called on the Ministry of Education to lend it’s voice on the campaign against the menace.
His words, “I have written to the Federal government, the National and State Assemblies about the the dangers of these illegal Polytechnics and the need to clampdown on them. I have even raised the issue to the National board of technical education and they promised to do something. I know some of the people who are doing this illegal business and I’ve given them timeline.
“This, must disappear because it waters down the quality of education and everything about our people. It is very annoying that you spend upto One Billion Naira to build an institution and you see someone that will stay in his bedroom to say he is running a polytechnic too.
“Some even run theirs under the tree and you see people attend those schools. Some people are studying computer science without seeing a computer set in the school, and other courses such as Engineering without any facility. At the end of the year,he will be issued a certificate.
“This is a crime against humanity, against quality education and something has to be done.”
Speaking on the forth coming Matriculation of his institution, James said over 300 students would partake in the ceremony even as admissions were still ongoing in the institution.
He hinted that the official launching of the institution’s entrepreneurial initiatives such as Sapoly FC and Sapoly Fashion/Shoes would be done at the event.
On the harmonisation of the HND/BSC Dichotomy by President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr James said such lacuna and disparity was disheartening considering the experience a HND graduate gannered during the mandatory internship.
“Like my school, I spent over N80 Million to put up my science lab only. The Engineering and the computer labs are well equipped. The students make use of them. Most of the Universities do not have such facilities they only deal on theory.”
He however commended the president for removing the Dichotomy saying that graduates of polytechnic have a brighter future.
