The Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education, Dr. Masa’udu Kazaure; and the Rector, Yaba College of Education, Dr. Margaret Ladipo, have urged the Federal Government to address urgently the inequality between university and polytechnic graduates.
The disparity, they said, was affecting the growth and development of polytechnic education.
They spoke at a meeting of the Committee of Chairmen of Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics, held in Lagos.
Kazaure particularly noted that the discrimination had resulted in the lack of self-esteem and motivation among polytechnic graduates.
He, however, noted that the NBTE, through the Federal Ministry of Education, had renewed the demand for the removal of the inequality.
Ladipo, who urged the committee to support the call for equal recognition of the two categories of graduates, insisted that the disparity was impeding the development of polytechnic education.
She said, “One challenge facing the polytechnic sector is the disparity between B.Sc and HND graduates.
“This disparity, if allowed to continue, will affect the growth and development of polytechnic education.”
Meanwhile, she has assured the new intakes of the college of the provision of quality education.
She spoke during the matriculation of the technical education students of the college.
YABATECH runs the programme in affiliation with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Ladipo said, “We have a commitment to equip you with the requisite skills and competencies that would empower you to contribute your quota to the development efforts of this country.”
She urged the fresh students to face their studies and shun cultism and other vices that could ruin their academic pursuit.
The UNN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bartho Okolo, urged the new intakes to be vigilant and not to join clandestine groups or engage in prostitution.
Okolo, represented by Prof. S. Okwor, also charged the students to shun examination malpractice, noting that the university frowned on the vice.
