The Federal Ministry of Education has called on heads of polytechnics to provide direction in the quest for technological advancement of the country.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, David Adejo said at a Two-Day Retreat for New Rectors and Principal Officers of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria, in Abuja on Tuesday.
”Education is central on the agenda of President Bola Tinubu as has been demonstrated by the fact that the first Act he signed into law on assumption of office is related to education.
”Most strategically placed for this agenda of the government is Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
”As a government, we desire to see products from our Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology equipped to compete internationally.
”Gladly, the NBTE is making sure that there are appropriate and relevant skills and entrepreneurship training as well as competencies in the polytechnics and colleges of technology,” he said.
The permanent secretary also charged heads of polytechnics on initiatives to combat institution’s challenges while sustaining the existing harmony in the sector.
According to him, a good understanding and adherence of institutions’ guidelines would pave way not only for a smooth tenure, enhanced productivity and effective service delivery but more importantly provide the needed social services for the populace.
”The theme is very apt considering the multi-faceted challenges that confront not only Polytechnics and the entire tertiary education in Nigeria but also all Federal Government institutions.
”This require a governance structure with different layers of responsibility. You would all agree that with such a structure, there are bound to be some levels of disagreement in terms of how to achieve a common goal.
”It is the need to ensure that governance of such institutions work effectively, collaboratively and in partnership with one another that the public service has put in place a good number of guidelines, procedures and occasional circulars.
”Such an initiative is necessary but not sufficient strategy to make sure that you begin to employ best practice in managing the affairs of your various institutions to achieve the objective it was established for.
”It becomes sufficient when you have internalised the major lessons that you are expected to acquire from this retreat,” he said.
He noted that a very useful strategy to avoid rancour in the system was to operate within the ambits of the polytechnics Act, public service rules and extant circulars.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje said there was need for rectors and principal officers to possess skills required for optimal performance.
Bugaje said Nigerian polytechnics must be on the lead in the skills revolution sweeping the nation and indeed the entire globe.
He commended the federal government for making TVET one of its key agenda, while urging the participants to utilise the opportunity given by the government to actualise a technological -driven economy.
According to Bugaje, the system is undergoing massive transformation and needs no distraction at the moment but commitment by all concerned to achieve its reform objective.
”While I acknowledge that some of you have been around in the system, the positions you now occupy call for special leadership skills to equip you to face the challenges of running an ever changing system.
”The Polytechnic, like other tertiary institutions, has high propensity for friction due mainly to the multiplicity of stakeholders that you are going to deal with.
”Besides, the current economic challenges have more than ever before, requires the adoption of new ways of running the system, lest, you are confronted with strikes from different quarters,” he said.
The retreat was put together by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Committee of Federal Rectors (COFERS) and the Conference of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria (COHEADS). (NAN)
