The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, is criticizing the leadership of polytechnics across Nigeria for failing to meet the core objectives for which the institutions are established, describing the situation as unacceptable and embarrassing.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the minister says many polytechnics have drifted away from their original mandate of technical training and skills development, noting that more than 50 percent of courses currently offered fall under management and social sciences.
Speaking at a high-level retreat in Abuja, Alausa says the dominance of non-technical programmes directly contradicts the purpose of polytechnic education, which is designed to promote skill acquisition, engineering, technology, renewable energy, and agricultural innovation.
As reported by Mediaplusng.com, the minister stresses that polytechnics are critical to Nigeria’s industrial growth and sustainable development goals, but their current course structure does not support national needs in areas such as manufacturing, energy transition, food security, and applied technology.
He expresses concern that programmes like accounting, mass communication, and other management-related courses now outweigh technical and engineering disciplines, thereby weakening the relevance of polytechnic graduates in the labour market.
Alausa tells polytechnic leaders that the trend undermines the institutions’ contribution to economic growth and job creation. He warns that Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful industrialisation if polytechnics continue to operate like conventional universities.
The minister charges governing councils, rectors, and academic boards to urgently review and restructure their academic offerings to align with approved educational standards and national development priorities.
He makes it clear that polytechnics must refocus on practical, industry-driven training in areas such as engineering technology, renewable energy systems, artificial intelligence applications, mechatronics, agricultural processing, and other technical skills needed for the future economy.
Alausa also announces a major policy shift on certification, stating that Bachelor of Technology (BTech) degrees will no longer be issued to students studying non-technical courses such as accounting and mass communication.
According to him, BTech certificates will now be restricted strictly to engineering, technology, and other core technical programmes, in line with global best practices for polytechnic education.
He explains that the policy is aimed at restoring the integrity and distinct identity of polytechnics, while ensuring that graduates possess hands-on skills that make them competitive locally and internationally.
The minister urges institutions to collaborate with industries, research centres, and innovation hubs to update their curricula and provide students with real-world technical experience.
He also calls on regulatory agencies to strengthen monitoring and enforcement, ensuring that polytechnics comply with approved mandates and stop operating outside their defined scope.
The retreat brings together chairmen of governing councils, commissioners of education, rectors, registrars, and other key stakeholders, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to reform Nigeria’s technical and vocational education sector.
Alausa concludes by warning that institutions that fail to comply with the new directives risk sanctions, adding that the future of Nigeria’s workforce depends largely on a strong, focused, and skills-oriented polytechnic system.
