President Bola Tinubu's recent approval to convert Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) into a university has sparked debate, with the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) voicing strong opposition.
While Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated that the president did not hesitate to approve the proposal, NAPS President Eshiofune Oghayan countered that this conversion would compromise the core objectives of polytechnic education.
Oghayan argues that converting polytechnics like YABATECH into universities would diminish their unique role, shifting the focus from practical, industry-based training to theory-based learning.
NAPS advocates instead for the full implementation of the HND to B.Tech transition, which they believe would enable polytechnic graduates to receive internationally recognized degrees and enhance their competitiveness in the global job market.
NAPS emphasizes the importance of polytechnic institutions in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and industrial application, highlighting their role in fostering hands-on experience, problem-solving, and innovation.
The association believes that Nigeria should strengthen and expand polytechnic education, similar to practices in developed nations like Germany, China, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
In addition to opposing the conversion, NAPS proposes transforming the National Board for Technical Education into a Polytechnic Education Commission. This, they argue, would elevate the status and authority of polytechnic education in national planning, ensure adequate funding and policy implementation, and establish clear career pathways for polytechnic graduates.
NAPS has appealed to President Tinubu to reconsider the decision and has vowed to mobilize polytechnic students nationwide to resist the conversion, emphasizing the need to revamp and modernize technical education to produce innovators, skilled professionals, and industrial leaders.
