Speaking at the flag-off of the NEEDS assessment/verification exercise of public polytechnics at the Kaduna Polytechnic over the weekend, chairman of SSANIP, Ibrahim Abubakar, said the NEEDS committee came later than expected, noting that the federal government ought to have taken the issue alongside that of the universities, knowing that the problem is synonymous with that of the universities, an example of polytechnics’ complaint of dichotomy.
While he appealed to the committee to look into the pressing issue of dichotomy, Abubakar noted that polytechnic graduates are usually discriminated against in employment issues. He also urged the committee to look into the issue of a sporting complex, noting that the institute’s sporting complex is in bad shape. Chairman of ASUP in Kaduna Polytechnic, Mustapha Bida, urged the committee to address infrastructure as far as technology is concerned in the lecture rooms, theatres, laboratories, workshops and e-libraries among other areas in the institution.
“We’re need to address the issue of security, health, safety and environmental issues because many polytechnics have poor landscaping and lack adequate road networking while the recreational facilities are almost zero. In modern times, we should be talking of modern record keeping equipment, modern networking system, total internet connection to both staff and students, full computerisation of the bursary and other areas as well as research development for the polytechnic,” he said.
Chairperson of the Presidential Committee who is also a Director in the Federal Ministry of Education, Hajiya Fatima Ahmed, pointed out that the federal government is determined to address the needs of public polytechnics in the country.
