…..Senators Canvass Merger Of Polytechnic, Universities
SAN FRANCISCO, October 22, (THEWILL) – A bill for an act to abolish and prohibit dichotomy and discrimination between first degrees and the higher national diploma in the same profession/ field on Wednesday scaled the crucial second reading in the senate.
Senators also in near unanimity canvassed for the merging of Polytechnics with universities so that they can be degree-awarding institutions. If it is done, they contended, it would end the discrimination.
Accordingly, the bill was referred to the Committee on Education for further legislative work. The committee was expected to report back in plenary in four weeks.
Sponsor of the Bill, Senator Patrick Ayo Akinyelure, stated that the fallout or aftermath of continuing injustices, disparity and discrimination meted on products of Polytechnics in Nigeria is threatening to derail the nation’s core policy thrust of evolving a technological and scientifically based, self sufficient and self – reliant society in the nearest future
He also noted that if this contemplation occurs, there is bound to be a vacuum created in our labour market in this regard and dire consequences are bound to follow this trend
The lawmaker also cited instances where degree holders are given executive /superintendent cadre assignments while the HND holders are treated as minors and sometimes posted to perform guard duties in the residence of some senior officers and even certain retired officers
Senator Ahmad Lawan( Yobe APC) in his contribution stated that this is one area that requires genuine reforms as the discrimination is counter productive and stressed the need to get the best out of everyone. He added that Nigeria stands to gain from this abolishment
On his part, Senator Olusola Adeyeye disagreed that Polytechnics should be at par with universities and also cited the case of the United Kingdom that has abolished its Polytechnics”, saying let’s make all of them universities focusing on technological advancement.
The Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu stressed the need to expand the knowledge base of the nation’s Polytechnics, set up technical schools in all the states, adding that it’s going to be very difficult to abolish the HND/ B.SC dichotomy.
In his remarks, Senate President David Mark noted the different points made on both sides of the divide but all agreed that the entry points for universities and polytechnics are different.
According to him, it’s not about the products but the individual that matters as all institutions produce quacks and good graduates, adding ” the curriculum is where the problem is and not the nomenclature. ”
He also stated that though what the bill is seeking to achieve may not work , an arrangement can be made where Polytechnics begin to award degrees.
He also doubted if the Senate can legislate on this as the Upper House cannot compel private institutions not to discriminate in their employment, adding that nobody is going back to the Polytechnics from the University but rather vice versa.
EMMA UCHE, ABUJA.
