The Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) issued by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to universities is an aberration, capable of destroying the value of academic programmes, the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has said.
In a communique issued by the union at the end of its 52nd National Executive Council meeting held in Kano, it also opposed the dissolution of federal universities governing councils and increment in students’ charges in tertiary institutions.
The communiqué, which was signed by the union President, Ibeji Nwokoma, said there were obvious errors in the CCMAS as issued by the NUC.
He noted that the role and place of academic technologists in the university system were not given any consideration in the document as one of the critical stakeholders in the university system.
“The CCMAS document under review was prepared and circulated without any input from members of NAAT, who are critical stakeholders in the laboratories, workshops and studios as one of the tripods upon which any university is built.
“We observed that the name of academic technologist was conspicuously omitted: technologists’ jobs were assigned to academics support personnel, who are alien to the university system as if to add salt to injury, this non-existing staff is also being recommended to be engaged as temporary staff according to the CCMAS document under review.”
NAAT also picked holes in the dissolution of Federal Universities’ Governing Councils, saying: “We frowned at the decision of the Federal Government to dissolve the governing councils of all Federal Government owned institutions of higher learning in the country.”
The union described this move as a setback for the growth and development of Nigeria’s tertiary education as the dissolution will cripple the activities of the country’s tertiary institutions, especially in the areas of promotion, motivation, welfare, contracts and project documentation, as well as Laboratory facilities for practical and research.
While the union welcomed the idea behind the proposed student loan scheme, however, it stated it was concerned that the condition attached to assessing the loan is too stringent such that it may be impossible for a student to access it.
“Therefore, we call for an urgent review of the conditions to make it accessible to the concerned students. Government should consider giving grants, especially for indigent ones as a viable alternative to students’ loans,” it added.
It unequivocally opposed the introduction of tuition fees in tertiary institutions. “NAAT is worried and concerned too with the recent development regarding the increase in fees in our Federal Institutions, particularly universities. This development may compel many of our students to drop out of school, occasioned by the current economic hardship facing parents and lack of adequate resources to meet up with economic demands.
“We are aware that over 200 per cent increase in fees is now being imposed by universities authorities. NAAT, therefore, appeals to government to consider the plight of the poor and rescind the decision by returning to the status quo until the loan issue is properly addressed,” it added.
