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N62.3b TETFund intervention riddled by complaints

By Iyabo Lawal and Ujunwa Atueyi
13 December 2017   |   3:38 am
Nigeria polytechnics are barely afloat despite N62.3bilion lifeline from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) in the last five years.The money, handed out in the period, had been earmarked for research, academic staff training, physical infrastructure and conference attendance.

Executive Secretary, TETFUND, Abdullahi Baffa

• ‘We only hear of it in newspapers’

Nigeria polytechnics are barely afloat despite N62.3bilion lifeline from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) in the last five years.The money, handed out in the period, had been earmarked for research, academic staff training, physical infrastructure and conference attendance. What obtain however are complaints of underfunding, lack of teaching aids, obsolete laboratories and poor infrastructure.

Document obtained by The Guardian on the disbursement shows that 57 federal and state-owned polytechnics benefitted from the intervention.As at July, 19 polytechnics received N847.4m for academic staff training, with Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa, taking the largest share of N111m, while Federal Polytechnic Ede received N97.6m. Hassan Usman Polytechnic, Katsina, had 91.2m; Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi, N80.4m; Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda, Zamfara, N75.7m; and Niger State Polytechnic, Zungeru, N61.2m. Others are: Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo, N52.5m; Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria, N52.2m; Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, N51m; and Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, N43.5m. The remainder received below N40m.

“The existing infrastructure is in a state of disrepair while the road network, lecture halls and teaching tools are begging for attention,” said Lateef Fagbemi, chairman, Governing Council, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH).He noted that existing facilities are overstretched and are unable to accommodate the large number of candidates who apply yearly for admission.

Fagbemi stressed the importance of the institutions, saying, “Polytechnic education is meant to provide a country with needed technical manpower for the advancement of technology and economic empowerment. It is also a veritable means of solving the unemployment problem that has long plagued our country.”

He regretted that “at a projected rate of $7,105 per student, the sub-sector would require about N45 billion to train the current set of engineering students alone”.

The narrative was not different at the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State, where complaints emerged of inadequate facilities to host students, poor staff training and welfare, and outdated learning tools.At Auchi Polytechnic, Public Relations Officer Mustapha Oshiobugie said although the intervention is commendable, it did not go far enough in refurbishing appalling facilities and promoting staff development. Notwithstanding, he disclosed that the high impact project of the School of Applied Sciences was being financed by TETFund while four members of staff were currently in the United Kingdom for postgraduate degree programmes.

According to Prof. Olatunde Fawole, Rector of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, the fund is grossly inadequate to meet the institution’s needs. “Without the intervention of TETFund, only God knows what would have happened to polytechnics. Many of our projects are being funded by TETFund but government needs to do more,” he said.

Fawole wondered why polytechnics were excluded from the Needs Assessment Fund and urged government to initiate a policy review. He added: “The contribution of the polytechnic sector to engineering cannot be underestimated. At least, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) leadership passed through the polytechnic. And we can see that they are doing well. The sub-sector promoted on-hands training which is what we need as a nation.”

The former acting Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Dr. Ayodele Olaosebikan, stressed that to reposition the sub-sector, there is need for yet more funding, which would in turn, enhance capacity building for staff; provide state-of-the-art equipment in laboratories, workshops and studios; facilitate strict monitoring of students’ academic performance; and boost private-public partnership between polytechnics and private establishments.

“Give us adequate funding because we have been very helpful in tackling unemployment in the country. The construction of our students is superb. They can compete with Julius Berger. Our only problem is that government is frustrating the system,” said Joseph Okoro, Head, School of Environmental Studies and Engineering, YABATECH.

He added: “We produce people that create employment as well as employ others, unlike the university sector which produces certificates. Polytechnic education has been neglected for so long in this country. Hence, government must place it where it rightfully belongs.”

TETFund grants are not readily available lamented Najeem Adunola, senior lecturer at The Polytechnic, Ibadan and former general secretary, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).“I wonder the last time my institution assessed it. We only hear about it in the papers. The fund is not readily available for the academic staff of the polytechnic. For instance, I applied since 2014 for my PhD and I have not been able to assess the fund. The money is meant for on-the-job training and capacity development. What if I did not have the financial capacity to sponsor myself for the programme? Will I still be waiting till now to upgrade myself in knowledge?”

Insisting his case is a tip of the iceberg, Adunola asked: “What of those who could not? Will they continue to wait for TETFund while teaching contemporary students with knowledge gained 25 years ago? What kind of impact can a teacher who does not develop self or get acquainted with new knowledge, techniques and equipment make on students?” He warned that unless teachers are empowered to upgrade their knowledge and explore new trends in technology, the problems of skill gaps and unemployment would persist in the country.

“Our society does not place priority on education, whereas education is a fundamental factor in any developmental programme. What we are experiencing is a systematic problem. Remove illiteracy from a nation’s troubles; all its problems are solved. A nation that ignores education will remain stagnant in its developmental strides,” he added.

For Mrs. Marie Akpenyi, former Dean, School of Visual Studies, YABATECH, stakeholders must do more to improve the sector. “The fault is from everyone concerned with education. Our leaders must take up the challenge and ensure that the institutions judiciously use funds released. It is not enough to release funds; they must follow up on how the money is spent.

“Institutions send lecturers on foreign training but do they give them opportunities to implement what they have learnt? What happened to students’ projects? We have departments of mechanical and electrical engineering in most of our polytechnics. By now, students should be making cars and computers.” TETFund’s spokesman, Mr. Benn Ebikwo in response to the deluge of complaints told The Guardian that the allegations were not directed at the agency, since its job is merely interventionist in nature. According to him, the real owners of the schools are saddled with the main responsibility of funding while TETFUND helps to fill gaps in human capital development and other infrastructure needs.

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