THE National Leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, has accused the Federal government of undermining Polytechnics Education in Nigeria by deliberately designing and implementing unfavourable policies in them.
The National President of ASUP, Comrade Anderson Ezeibe, at a press briefing held at Federal Polytechnic, Oko in Anambra State, said that government appears to establish Polytechnics mainly to satisfy its political desires.
According to Comrade Ezeibe, Nigerian has consciously, over the years, decided to shy away from its responsibilities towards developing skill-based education.
The National President said that this is contrary to the provisions in the Nation’s policy on education adopted since 1977 which recognized the place of technical and vocational education in the development of the Nation.
He wondered whether the Federal government has decided to do away with this sector even when Polytechnic education has a very vital role to play in the development of the Nation.
This Comrade Ezeibe said was evident in the fact that thirty six new Federal Polytechnics were established in the recent past in addition to the two established about three years ago and different state governments are still establishing new polytechnics.
The National President lamented that after establishing the institutions, they are left to run empty handed, calling on the government to do the needful.
BY SUNNY A. DAVID
