Sunday, March 27, 2016

BEING A POSITION PAPER PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL OF HEADS OF POLYTECHNICS IN NIGERIA AND COLLEGES OF TECHNOLOGY (COHEADS) BY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POLYTECHNIC STUDENT (NAPS) on Wednesday 13th 2016.

Protocol's !!

It is consider a privileged responsibility to address this distinguished council on behalf of the entire Polytechnic students. We have chosen to seize this expensive opportunity to bring into focus certain issues which we consider pertinent to the attainment and sustenance of peace continuous progress and development which we believe is the major yearnings and aspirations of both the students and institution authorities.

With respect to the gathering of council of rector's we deem it fit to make this positions to earn your support for development of our sector.

PARITY AT ENTRY LEVEL INTO TETIARY INSTITUTIONS

The dichotomy between HND and BSC certificates can best be address at entry level through critical examination of entry requirement into the duo institutions. Factually one of the aims of merging University matriculation Examination UME and Monotechnics, Polytechnics and colleges of Education Examination by joint Admission matriculation board JAMB was to aid an end to discrepancy between the two category institutions certificates. The prerequisite for universities are more strict compare to that of polytechnics, where JAMB cut off marks is maintained at standard of 200, 220 or even more for special courses by the heads of this institutions (VCs) while the compromission of the cut off for Polytechnic by heads (Rectors) to the drop of cut off marks to 180, 150 in quest of population and others is not good enough nor helpful for the ongoing agitation for an end to dichotomy.                                 We therefore appeal for strict adherence for parity at entry level for both University and Polytechnic by the Council.

INTERNAL MECHANISM TO ADDRESS SEXUAL HARASSMENTS IN THE POLYTECHNIC SECTOR.

The widespread of sexual harassment in the Nation's campuses of higher institutions has assumed a disgraceful and disheartening dimension. Although it is applicable to tertiary institutions but the rate in Polytechnic is alarming has it was reported on national Daily (punch), a week ago citing the case of Auchi Polytechnic. The intensive spread of the menace throughout the whole country is an indictment on our national moral and discipline decadence. The mysterious aspect of the awesome drama is the application to both sex gender.

Sexwork unfortunate has become a key perquisite to pass courses on most campuses, ladies are to go down to bed with lecturers to have a course pass while guys on the other hand are to arrange Arissto's to do the sexwork or risk coming following year to observe same process. Fear of graduating has sex machines grip females students as education gradually turns sex sentence.

We therefore call for The implementation of internal  mechanism that will protect whistle blowers such as distress numbers, complain boxes, counsel and guidance for students to open up harassment should be in place, preferable anonymously due to fear of victimization and intimidation from reported culprits. Adoption of conference markings or CBT systems to reduce lecturers influence on students success in examination will go a long way capture the menace.

INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC STUDENTS UNION GOVERNMENT AND FINANCIAL AUTONOMY FOR NATIONAL Body (NAPS)

The authorities of our institutions still deprive us of democratic students Union government,  which makes meaningful consultation and effective participation in government  policy making difficult for us. Indiscriminate rustication, suspension and expulsion of students leaders still prevail while intermittent closure of our institutions continues as a characteristic feature. Holding to ground of practical experience the student unionism offers students which can be traced to many successful public office holders whom are graduate of campus student unionism in Nigeria Polytechnics and their successful engagement in public service necessitate sustainance of independent student Union government in all Polytechnics. Breeding of students who are academic genius, ideological robots and  political nonentity may not present the sector well.

For effective pursuit of national consciousness, citizenship education and ideological orientation with a view to enhance national unity, relative peace and orderliness on campuses,                 we therefore call for resuscitation of all banned student union government across board by  School authorities, however needs to to do more to sustained democratic students unionism without interference into it's operations and giving it necessary supports to build future leaders with leadership skills and knowledge of governance which is not obtainable in class as it is not contained in the curriculum.

Students Union Government of all polytechnics are bound by the constitution of NAPS to pay capitation due (Annual Due) as member unions, like every other association and Union The failure of most unions to fulfill this obligation as incapacitates the National body NAPS financially subjecting her to romance of philanthropist for administration running therefore frustrating  the sole aim of establishing an alternate voice for polytechnic students.           We thereby request heads of institution consent to influence the direct remittance of this said due N200,000 directly into national body account since all institutions collects SUG due together with school fees and operates TSA

POLYTECHNIC STAKEHOLDERS CONFERENCE

Lunching a rescue mission into our educational sector from total collapse becomes imperative, as standards depart our core discipline, deviation from practical orientation and technical knowledge. Appraising the polytechnic sector through a stakeholder meeting to collectively identify challenges facing the sector, harmonize positions and push for implementation together at necessary quarters now becomes mandatory.

The Incessant Industrial actions, students unrest, cult clashes, etc. paralyze academic activities and calendars inform the need for stakeholder conference, critical examinations to ensure internal mechanism arrest is develop to arrest frivolous intermittent closure of our campuses.

Numerous favorable Federal Government panel reports for the upgrade of polytechnic to degree awarding status and removal of HND/BSc dichotomy without implementation calls for review, harmonization, joint implementation efforts. We therefore propose all encompassing stakeholders conference to includes NAPS, WAPSU, ASUP, NASU, SSANIP,  COHEADS, COFEPR,  NBTE, FME and office of National Security Adviser to Presidency To harness uniform provisions of adequate facilities, massive media campaigns, rallies, Lecture boycotts, symposium, positions presentations and individual efforts all towards actualising degree awarding status for Polytechnics.                 

ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMERCIAL TECHNICAL WORKSHOPS IN ALL POLYTECHNICS                       

The Polytechnic is at verge of losing her core value and identity as master producer of technologist in the country,  the introduction of entrepreneurship education is not enough to justify the need for professional practical practice for all engineering and sciences department.  It not befitting that Polytechnic authorities   staffs, students and the community members still patronize vulcanizer,  mechanics, electrical, electronic, furniture, tailoring and laboratory centers / workshops for service outside the system despite our foundation on technology.   We therefore recommend establishment of commercial technical workshops and laboratory centers by all Polytechnics which will be the center for industrial attachment for all students to acquired professional practical certificate within 4months as well serve as IGR mechanism for the system where competent technician with sophisticated equipment will be mount.  It is expected to offer all Polytechnics communities and general public a service just as our health facilities does in many Polytechnics today.     We are optimistic that this position will be given adequate consideration for a better and robust technological advancement of dear nation and improve for productivity in Polytechnic sector.    

Comr.  Olugbode Damola
NATIONAL PRO NAPS/ Secretary NAPS TECHNICAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE    

Amb.  Salahudeen A Lukman
WAPSU REGIONAL PRESIDENT / Chairman NAPS TECHNICAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.    

Comr.  Owolabi Olaogun Yusuf
NAPS Vice President South West / Member NAPS TECHNICAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

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