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Is Polytechnic Education Going into Extinction? By Ayara Dennis Omeiza
On the 19th of August 2005, Professor Bello Salim, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) henchman lamented the poor registration of people into the Monotechnic, College of Education and Polytechnic JAMB examination that was to be held on the 20th of August 2005. The man looked worried and confused at the low turn out, his worries were that only an incredible number of 150,000 candidate registered for the examination, while a good number of the aforementioned number registered late. This to me is expected because it underscores the lack of interest and apat hy that prevails among youths seeking for admission. The youths cannot be blamed for not seeking polytechnic education since the society now under plays its value.
The societal dislike is influenced by governmental decision that places more emphasis on university degree (Bachelor) rather than university education, they place higher premium on university holder thereby relegating holders of Higher National Diploma (HND) to an infidel in the academic world. This dichotomy between a university degree (Bachelor) and a Polytechnic Diploma (HND) goes beyond the ordinary, while holders of Higher National Diploma who spent more years in the pursuant of this certificate is demoralize with comments from employers of labor who often time does not even include HND certificate as a prerequisite for the vacancies placed. The government on the other side who is supposed to be an un-bias umpire now pursues an agenda of alienation and exclusion of HND holders in her employment drive. This unwritten understanding was confirmed by the recent advertisement by Federal Character Commission, which advertised 1000 jobs. The commission made it clear that only Bachelor holders with first class and 2.1 in some courses are only eligible, this however leaves the HND holders bemoan thier fate.
The recent pronunciation by our Humorous President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo that students of Mass Communication and Sociology may be allocated permanent residence in the already saturated labour market because they are uneducated and lack basic skills shows that those saddled with leadership responsibilities lacked the psychology of human feelings. The President may have forgotten the role played by media in the Abacha`s regime when he was jailed for a phantom coup. The relevance of both fields cannot be over-emphasied in our today’s world; ironically, the President has passed his verdict on these noble professions.
My personal philosophy in life is that “what you have count less but what you do with what you have is what gives a man a pat in the back” I equally have a firm believe in the dictum that says “ what people call you is less significant but what you call your self is all that matters”. Thus, the low rating of HND holders would not have been a stumbling block to the holders, but, the near absence of their inclusion in the advertised vacancies is the real problem that plagued them. The absence of competition from students in these institutions is a killer sword that tilt the battle of securing a job in favour of a university graduate.
The dearth of a level playing field in the labour market has really helped to re-classify graduates from polytechnic as a pseudo graduate. Certificate rather than what one can do has suddenly became the deciding factor, thus, less attention is given to function while more attention goes to status. A good number cannot really practice their trade, though the fault is not theirs but on the system that engaged in crash study to make up for time spent on one form of strike or the other.
It is not a misnomer therefore, if a loving father does not want his child to go for a polytechnic education because the society only recognize a university certificate, which has led to the diabolic act of examination mal-practice to strive, the parents engages the services of any body to ensure the admission of his or her child in to any university. He proudly does that because he is part of the society and would want his cherished child to be a policyholder.
Incidentally, universities and other higher institutions are grossly under-funded by the government and the numbers of existing universities are scarcely inadequate to cater for millions of youths who wish to be admitted, this leave the society and the candidate in a dicey state. There willt be a system crash if everybody sought and get university admission, funny enough, the admission often than not goes to the highest bidders as there exist an insignificant number of universities in the country couple with poor funding.
The polariasation will destroy the system and increase examination mal-practice, it will certainly create a large army of unemployment and uneducated youths which will serve some selfish politicians at the detriment of the people. Armed robbery will be on the increase because the existing university cannot admit them. Ironically, our higher institution has become a place for “social” re-alignment and a training ground for cultist as evidenced in some institution across the country.
With the President’s Fatwa on Mass Communication and Sociology students, the existing Institution must be prepared for an unprecedented rush into the engineering department, suffice it to say that such a rush will not be to the advantage of the country and the department, because a man cannot have an outstanding result in any thing he has little understanding on. Unfortunately, those who will engage in this rush are not doing it for the interest or love they have for it but to assuage the public.
Lest am miss-understood, university education is a must in our competitive world but our Polytechnic must not die in the hands of those in authorities. They (polytechnics) are supposed to play a complimentary role in our(society) bid to transform the country. If tertiary education is be properly funded, a graduate can create value on any field.
The Nigeria society will only lost its value if certificate is all that matters. It is ironical to note that Ted Turner and Bill Gate would have lost an opportunity if they had been a Nigerian. Ayara Dennis Omeiza
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