Education
ASUP says new polytechnic service scheme won’t favour HND holders
ASUP says new polytechnic service scheme won’t favour HND holders
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Federal Polytechnic Bauchi Chapter, has voiced concerns regarding the newly introduced Polytechnic Service Scheme.
The union, pointing out several contentious issues in the approved scheme, fears it will exacerbate the marginalization of Higher National Diploma (HND) holders compared to their counterparts with university degrees.
During an emergency congress held at the Senator Ali Wakili Complex, ASUP Secretariat in FPTB on Wednesday, Acting Chairman Esther Adebitan expressed that the scheme further entrenches discrimination against HND certificate holders in contrast to university graduates.
Adebitan emphasised that the Union fully supports the resolution issued by the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), which gives a 15-day ultimatum to suspend the scheme in compliance with existing labour laws or face industrial action.
She said: “We affirm that Polytechnics cannot discriminate against its products in the manner prescribed in this document.”
“This is evident in the provision of discriminatory entry points into the Lecturer cadre for degree holders and HND holders; lowering the career progression bar of holders of HND both in the teaching and non-teaching cadres; discrimination against holders of HND in the appointment of Registrars and Bursars irrespective of their possession of higher level certificates; classification of technologists as non-teaching staff and so on.”
She mentioned that having deliberated extensively on the contents of the ‘controversial document’ and after further scrutiny by the Union’s Think Tank Committee, as well as the Council of National, Officers (CNO) of the Union, at the 110th meeting of the Union’s NEC, it hereby communicates the following specific findings:
“The document approved as Scheme of Service for Polytechnics contains significant and fundamental deviations from the document prepared by stakeholders in the sector and coordinated through a series of consultative engagements by the NBTE for over 6 years.”
“The document’s approval route which gave rise to the significant and contentious alterations is legally questionable as the role of The Office of The Head of Civil Service of The Federation as an approving authority is challengeable.
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“Our conviction is that The Head of Civil Service of The Federation cannot be preparing or approving a document on career development of staff including assessment of such staff for career growth when she is neither an employer nor regulator.”
“The status of Nigerian Polytechnics was again brought to question by this controversial document. The tertiary educational institution status of Polytechnics is settled in different laws and policy instruments.”
“Therefore, the introduction of sub-tertiary level qualifications like in this instance the National Skills Qualifications (NSQ) as mandatory conditions for academic staff career growth is a misnomer as the possession of NSQ has no meaningful contribution to the delivery of the contents of the curricula of the different programs offered at the tertiary education level in Polytechnics.”
She stated further: “The contentious document curiously, unjustifiably and unacceptably elongates the career progression steps of the Lecturer cadre from a 7-step to a 9-step career development cadre and at the same time added an extra year for promotion to the final two levels.”
“This implies that anyone on the lecturer cadre will now endure a minimum of 26 tortuous years from the base to the highest level. This is not acceptable, particularly in view of the fact that this deviates from the norm in other sub-sectors and that the retirement age in the sector remains unchanged.”
“The unfair career progression guide in the sector particularly as it affects the teaching and non-teaching staff cadres is a recipe for crises as such is not reflective of the remuneration accruing to the cadres”
“The document was manifest with a proliferation of directorates with unsustainable financial implications on the overhead of the institutions. Equally, we view it as an act of duplicity for the NBTE to enter into a questionable Memorandum of Understanding with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria on the issue of the status of the HND program in Pharmaceutical Technology run by Polytechnics, while at the same time creating a cadre which requires manpower of same qualification. This contradiction is unfortunate.”
“The release of documents by the NBTE subtly amending some provisions and seeking approval for amendment of others amounts to an admission of guilt and a halfhearted attempt at lifting the mourning mood in the sector imposed by the release of the contentious scheme of service.
“This is unsatisfactory and self-indicting on the commitment of the NBTE to the ideals and aspirations of the Nigeria Polytechnic System.”
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The Nation
Education
FG to unbundle unity colleges into basic, secondary schools
FG to unbundle unity colleges into basic, secondary schools
The Federal Government has announced its plans to unbundle the 115 Federal Unity Colleges in the country into basic and secondary schools.
Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, disclosed this during the opening of the Annual General Meeting of Principals of Unity Colleges in Abuja on Tuesday.
The theme of the event is ‘Entrepreneurship Education: A Panacea for Self-Reliance and National Development’.
Sununu said that the plan to unbundle the unity colleges was in line with the National Policy on Education (NPE).
The minister said the unbundling of Unity Colleges would among other things attract more funding to improve infrastructure, address teachers’ welfare and create employment opportunities, among others.
He added that the ministry, with the support from relevant agencies of government, would ensure it was achieved in the shortest time possible.
“I want to emphasise the significance of fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in our youths, a spirit that will propel them toward self-reliance and contribute meaningfully to our nation’s development.
“Unemployment remains a pressing concern, and it is our collective responsibility to equip our students with the skills and mindset necessary to succeed.
“Entrepreneurship education offers a solution to this challenge as it prepares students to think creatively, innovatively, and develop the confidence to take calculated risks,” he said.
Sununu called for the collaboration of the principals as critical stakeholders to improve the educational landscape of the schools.
He further urged them to curb social vices, instil the maintenance culture on the students and co-operate with their host communities for the overall security and growth of the Colleges.
Also, the Chairperson, Principals of Federal Unity Schools Colleges, Dr Idowu Akinbamijo, said the meeting was to set the agenda for the coming year and build capacity for the task ahead.
Education
JAMB gives reasons for limiting physical interaction with underaged candidates
JAMB gives reasons for limiting physical interaction with underaged candidates
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed why it plans to limit physical interaction with underaged candidates.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede announced on Monday that the move is aimed at preventing extortion and enhancing service delivery.
The development was announced in a bulletin on the JAMB website, with Oloyede elaborating that limiting physical contact would address issues of extortion and exploitation.
“Prof. Oloyede stated that given that many of the candidates who take the UTME are underage, the board is considering limiting physical contact with those with challenges to avoid any alleged issues of extortion and other forms of exploitation.
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“He stated that in due course, interactions would be limited to online ones with calls recorded for effective monitoring and quality control.
“The board had received a series of reports bordering on some unwholesome practices, adding that a team had been deployed to investigate the claims, promising to make the findings known to all.
“He urged students who had accused some JAMB officials and other operatives such as CBT centres of extortion in the name of ‘regularisation’ or other services to provide credible evidence, adding that any staff found culpable would face the full wrath of the law,” the statement reads.
JAMB gives reasons for limiting physical interaction with underaged candidates
Education
Lagos govt says no going back on school boarding fee increase
Lagos govt says no going back on school boarding fee increase
The Lagos State Government (LASG) says increase in boarding fees in its model colleges is inevitable, to ensure better welfare of the students.
Mr Ganiu Lawal, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Lagos State, said this in a statement made available on Monday.
Lawal noted that students in the boarding schools were over one percent of the entire basic and secondary school student population in public schools in the state.
According to Lawal, the N35,000 boarding fees being paid since 2021 is not realistic in 2024.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos State Government approved the upward review of boarding fees payable in all public boarding schools in Lagos State.
The review of boarding fees in all public secondary schools in Lagos State is with effect from 2024/2025 session.
The newly approved fee is N100,000 only and starts from the ongoing session which commenced on September 15, 2024.
“The Ministry is aware of dissenting views by some parents to the inevitable increase in boarding fees in our model colleges.
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“This was not an easy decision, but the welfare of the children is a priority for the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and the Lagos State Government.
“Since enrolment of a child into a boarding school is an individual choice for every parent, they are expected to pay boarding fees.
“The boarding fee is paid every term and it is used basically for feeding, janitorial and other miscellaneous cost related to keeping them in the hostels per term,” Lawal said.
The ministry official explained that the schools took care of energy cost on fuel and cooking gas, which are essential for preparing the students’ meals.
“The model college students enjoy all other privileges of free education vis a vis provision of education infrastructure, free tuition, technology support (free devices).
“Also provision of adequate security in schools and payment of terminal examination fees; the state government pays WAEC fees for all public school students.
“Ideally, none of our parents will testify to the reasonability of feeding a child of 12 to 18 years with N35,000 for 3 months.
“A comparative analysis of Federal and state public schools with boarding facilities across the country shows Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education is still very considerate with the reviewed rate in spite of the incomparable cost of food and other expenses,” he said.
Lawal noted that nutritious food was not just for physical growth but also for mental alertness, adding that the Ministry would not want any boarding student to look gaunt or lack the skill of critical thinking.
He stressed that government took responsibility of the health and well being of the students while in school, but added that government would require full cooperation of all stakeholders to do this.
The ministry official, therefore, enjoined parents to see reasons with the state government and show understanding for the sake of the children.
Recall that the LASG provides free education in 1,021 primary schools, 369 junior secondary and 329 senior secondary schools, which include 32 model colleges across the State.
All the model colleges are boarding schools, except for Vetland Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, which operate day.
Lagos govt says no going back on school boarding fee increase
(NAN)
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