The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has mandated that all polytechnic students will undergo Mandatory Skills Qualifications (MSQ) before graduation.
This initiative was clarified by the NBTE Executive Secretary, Professor Idris Bugaje, during a press conference while discussing the 2024 scheme of service draft.
Professor Bugaje stated, “Every polytechnic student from this year has to do a Mandatory Skills Qualification (MSQ) before graduation. This is a major paradigm shift in polytechnic education in Nigeria, so we produce diploma holders with skills. ‘You cannot give what you don’t have’, and that’s why the National Skills Qualifications (NSQ) was introduced to promote lecturers who should drive the MSQ. This requirement will additionally make polytechnic lecturers unique, having both academics and hands-on skills.”
The recently approved scheme of service for the polytechnic sector has been distributed, and proposals for amending certain areas have been forwarded to Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Head of Service of the Federation, known as the “Mother of Skills” in Nigeria.
The 2024 scheme is described as revolutionary, recognizing Higher National Diploma (HND) holders for the first time as graduate assistants, similar to their university counterparts. It also stipulates that principal and chief lecturers must hold doctorate degrees.
Bugaje emphasized, “While we ask for parity between universities and polytechnics, we can’t allow the highest academics in polytechnics to have a master’s degree only. The indolent academics who, in the past, run and hid in polytechnics to avoid doctorate degrees shall hereafter have no hiding place anymore.”
However, Bugaje acknowledged the need for amendments in several areas, including addressing the dichotomy against HND holders, including omitted cadres, allowing at least one promotion skipping for all cadres like in other tertiary institutions, and not elongating the waiting period for all promotions beyond three years.
These observations from various stakeholders, including the Committee of Rectors of Federal Polytechnics, polytechnic staff unions, and the National Association of Polytechnic Students, have been submitted to the Head of Service.
He also addressed concerns raised by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) regarding the NSQ certificate for lecturer promotions, stating, “NSQ is not an informal qualification as misjudged by ASUP. It is already approved and recognized in the National Scheme of Service.”
Additionally, Bugaje noted that the Federal Polytechnics Academic Staff Union (FEPASU) has appealed regarding the scheme, emphasizing that the Schemes of Service are specifically for federal polytechnics, which have unique governance and ownership structures distinct from state polytechnics. He stressed that while education is on the concurrent list in the Constitution, NBTE cannot impose the new Scheme of Service on any state polytechnic after its final validation.
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