As FG Inaugurates C’ttee on Varsity, Poly Merger
From Juliana Taiwo in Abuja, 11.08.2006
The Federal Government yesterday inaugurated the Presidential Technical Committee on the consolidation of tertiary institutions.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Ufot Ekaette said government was worried at the acute problem of carrying capacity at the tertiary level of the education system, stressing that it was also worried that Nigeria was increasingly unable to provide access to especially university education for the critical mass of the population .
He said the few vacancies that exist are oversubscribed. “With facilities overstretched, quality is threatened. What is more, we are aware that no nation has achieved technological and socio-developmental breakthrough where less than 15 per cent of its qualified citizens have access to university education. With less than three per cent access, the challenge before us is indeed herculean. We must, therefore, seek to expand access without proliferation of universities so that we can increase our carrying capacity while still maintaining academic excellence.
“Consequently, after a painstaking analysis of our tertiary education system, including wide-ranging consultations with various stakeholders, culminating in the Presidential Forum held about two weeks ago, the Federal Government is convinced that we should consolidate all tertiary institutions. This means the conversion of all Federal Polytechnics and Federal Colleges of Education into campuses of proximate and contiguous universities. At the same time, government is convinced that two of the oldest and most well-established polytechnics in the country located at Yaba and Kaduna should be transformed into universities in their own right to be known as “City University of Lagos” and “City University of Kaduna”, respectively”, he said.
The Committee’s Terms of Reference include: To streamline all academic programmes with the Minimum Standards and advise on the programmes to be retained at non-degree level;
Determine, in conjunction with the universities, the arrangement for the completion of current programmes run by the Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in respect of the continuing students;
Recommended effective ways for the smooth conversion of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and the Kaduna Polytechnic into “City Universities”, including the type of programmes to run at degree and non-degree levels;
Propose, in detail, the engagement of the teaching staff, consistent with the guidelines for the employment of academic staff in Nigerian universities;
Recommend ways by which the non-academic staff can be engaged, consistent with the NUC ratios;
Examine the enabling laws and propose necessary amendments;
Provide a detailed documentation of the physical assets of the institutions being consolidated, including movable and immovable instructional and other facilities such as laboratory/workshop equipment, etc;
Provide detailed estimates of financial intervention required in order to improve physical and instructional facilities at all campuses; and
Any other relevant recommendation, which, in the Committee’s judgement, will enhance the smooth consolidation of the tertiary institutions.
Ekaette emphasized that the exercise is not about staff rationalization or the abdication of federal responsibility for tertiary education, nor is it an attempt to introduce higher fees or abolish non-degree courses. “The universities will continue to be run as a social responsibility. They will also continue to train our middle and higher-level manpower necessary for our national survival in a world increasingly driven by knowledge”, he said.
The Committee has till the end of January 2007 to submit its report.

ASUP Condemns Proposed Merger Plans
11.12.2006
www.thisdayonline.com
Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), has condemned in totality, the proposed plan to merge Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in the country with Universities.
Rising from its 54th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Ugbokolo, Benue State, weekend, the union said the plan is at its best mischievous.
In a press statement signed by its National President, Muhammed Umar Kibiya, ASUP said the stakeholder forum, laudable and desirable as it may sound, is ill-motivated, ill-informed, deceptive and selfishly designed towards the attainment of some vested interests.
“It was vexed that the forum did not reflect the actual stakeholders in the education sector as it was mainly dominated by bureaucrats, consultants and main-stream administrators, and also that genuine contributions were deliberately ignored during its proceedings.”
The union faulted the timing, saying such an all-important programme shouldn't have been introduced just when Mr President is about to leave office.
It also described the move as superficial and retrogressive, capable of causing confusion in the educational sector. It further called on the Federal government to adequately fund the Nigerian Polytechnics and build its curriculum to meet the increasing number of candidates seeking to acquire a higher degree rather than merging schools, citing cases of advanced nations where Polytechnics are well equipped to run Masters and Ph.D programmes.
Expressing deep concern on the poor funding of the state Polytechnics in Enugu, Benue and Taraba, ASUP called on the Federal Government to take over the running of these institutions, and also to upgrade Yaba Tech and Kaduna Polytechnic to degree awarding Polytechnics.
On the on-going INEC voter's registration, ASUP expressed a big disappointment in the poor handling, and enjoins the commission to enhance its mechanisms to avoid further deteriorations. It also mourned the incessant plane crashes in the country these days, blaming the mishaps on the Federal Government's careless way of handling serious problems in the country.
COMMENTS
Shittu Afeez
11.13.2006 13:28
To me to improve the standard of Nigeria education we need to have mostly Universities to compete with the world education standard. Although the Polythecnics also have been very hardworking in thier own various ability to improve the level of techinical education in Nigeria and that Nigeria still need to maintain some technical education to improve the level of technical know-how in Nigeria
OLADAYO OWODOLU
11.13.2006 13:18
In my own view i think is good dicision to merge if that is what will solve the problem of discrimination of degree between BSC and HND holders. This descrimination has always been a thing of daily thought for me as many employers always prefer Bsc holders to HND holders. I believe we have thousand and one HND holders better than Bsc holders which these so called employers runs after day by day. As for ASUP against the development I believe they are doing these because of the fact that many of them are trying to protect there interest as mearger may make some of them loose there post or otherwise, not minding thosse who are at stake and the future of there products. If a company produces a product and is not acceptable in the market definately the company will be forced out of market which i believe is happening right now with the issue of mearging going on now. It is a good idea if HND is no loger acceptable to our society. But my fear is that what happens to those going about with that certificate (are they going to have change of certificate or what?). Thanks OLA.

Remember that no Polytechnic Product is a member of asup

Polytechnics should be allowed to run BTech, MTech and Phd rather than converting them into universities. Does that mean that nigeria does not need Technicians and Technologists again?? This is the highest level of insensitivity of the nigerian government on Technological education. If YabaTech and Kadpoly are qualified to run Masters and Phd programs they should be allowed to do that as polytechnics rather than robbing NBTE to pay NUC.

Let polytechnic go go go gooooooooooooooooooooo
The university produce the technician and technologist in USA, Canada.
UK that brought POLYTECHNIC do no longer have any. Silsoe college is now campus of Crankfield university.

Polytechnic Kai go masa masa

Hnd-holder:

Let polytechnic go go go gooooooooooooooooooooo
The university produce the technician and technologist in USA, Canada.
UK that brought POLYTECHNIC do no longer have any. Silsoe college is now campus of Crankfield university.

Polytechnic Kai go masa masa

Then, let all polytechnics in nigeria be converted into universities. If selected polytechnics are converted to universities what will be the fate of the unconverted or remaining polytechnics?? If all poly's in nigeria will be converted into universities, no problem then; let them go ahead, else they should drop that idea because we will not want a situation where polytechnics will still be existing alongside universities.

ishmael:

Then, let all polytechnics in nigeria be converted into universities. If selected polytechnics are converted to universities what will be the fate of the unconverted or remaining polytechnics?? If all poly's in nigeria will be converted into universities, no problem then; let them go ahead, else they should drop that idea because we will not want a situation where polytechnics will still be existing alongside universities.

They will be converted by their owners

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/
ASUP faults govt on planned poly reforms
By Mary Akparanta
IN reaction to the Federal Government's planned conversion of some polytechnics into universities, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) says the union's position is not wholesale conversion of the institutions to conventional university but to give degree-awarding status so that the polytechnic sector can grow at its own pace.
While the union agrees with the government on its plan to elevate some of the polytechnics into degree awarding institutions, it however, does not subscribe to the means, approach and modes operandi.
Against this backdrop, the union has given the Federal Government until November 30, 2006 to rescind its decision of converting the mentioned polytechnics to conventional universities or face industrial action from its members.
The stance of ASUP, its national president, Mallam Sulayman Alli told journalists recently, was informed by its resolve to allow the polytechnic sector grow at its own pace.
Alli made the position of the ASUP known at its just concluded National Executive Committee sixth yearly conference held at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.
He said the union received the declaration of the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Education that the Yaba College of Technology and Kaduna Polytechnic had been converted to universities.
His words: "In the first place, the move by the Federal Government meets our deepest aims that the Polytechnics with sufficient facilities should be granted degree awarding status. If this is what the government has attempted to do, the two Polytechnics selected are not the only ones that can be converted to universities."
He noted that in this connection, all existing federal and state polytechnics should be upgraded to award degrees if they met the criteria for such conversion.
Alli expressed displeasure that inputs were not sought from stakeholders especially, members of the union before the decision was reached. This, he argued, might portend danger for the sector as the implications of the action and inaction of the Federal Government would lead to many things including downsizing, job cuts, lay-offs and other unsavoury consequences.
Also commenting on some of the dangers the conversion may pose to the Polytechnic sector, which has been towing the technological line, he advised " lecturers in these polytechnics should be given three to five years moratorium to equip themselves to meet the task of running academic programme in a University".
Alli further stated that the meteoric transformation of some Polytechnics to universities and others to proximate campuses of Universities nearest to them is wholly unacceptable to the union.
According to him, ASUP has a position on the upgrading of deserving polytechnics to degree awarding institutions, which has for long been presented to the Federal Government and other agencies of the Federal Ministry of Education.
" We have given an ultimatum to the Federal Government until November 30 as we will also be having a meeting in Bida, Niger State. We expect the government to call us to make input into reforms pertaining to Polytechnic education. If this is not considered appropriate ASUP will direct all our members in the entire Polytechnics to abandon the classroom so that the Federal Government can do whatever it pleases with Polytechnic education" he added.
He stressed that the overall effect would be on the students as there are yet no modalities in reconciling those who are currently HND holders to those, who will be awarded degrees.


NAPS calls for involvement in matters affecting them
From Mohammed Abubakar,
THE new elected President of National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Prince Paul Yakubu, has called on the Federal Government to involve students when formulating policies that would affect their well being.
Yakubu, who made this remark at the weekend during the inauguration of the association's new executive, in Abuja, said that if the students, who are beneficiaries of government's educational reform policies are not involved during formulation stages, reforms will not work.
He thanked the Minister of Education, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, for the reforms she has introduced in the educational sector since assuming office but added "all these reforms would not be complete, if we, the beneficial students are not involved through our leadership, in the formulation of these policies."
He also complained of the existing disparity between degree and Higher National Diploma (HND), in the country, saying the recent moves by the government to abolish same was a step in the right direction.


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POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, that is American syle !
Is Poly for You?
Polytechnic University is a school like no other. From our founding days, we've taken a different approach to technological education — we believe that the best way to learn is by doing. Our students get a firm grounding in science and technology, then learn to apply their knowledge by tackling real problems. Working in teams, at sites around the globe, they develop solutions that truly make a difference. These are the concepts behind Polythinking, and it's what sets us apart from other colleges and universities. http://www.poly.edu/admissions/undergrad/scholarships_and_aid/

We do not want polytechnics to go, what we want is the abolishment of HND certificate. Polytechnics and colleges of technology should be upgraded by allowing them to run masters and Phd programs, and not converting them into universities. Britain and other developed countries converted their polytechnics into universities after attaining DEVELOPED status and not while trying to develop. Let nigeria develop first before abolishing technical and technological education, else in 100 years to come nigerians will still be dependent on developed countries for virtually everything including toothpick and matches.

Now that Nigerian rejected the polytechnic the wise thing is for Polytechnic to go. Abi.

Let dem close down all polytechnics and abolish polytechnic education in nigeria. Why should dey convert only 2 polytechnics to universities?? What is the fate of the other polytechnics?? Rather than converting dem why not they empower dem to run BTech and Bsc degrees, masters degrees and phd programs?? Converting some polytechincs to universities does not solve the problem of HND discrimination, rather it will worsen it. Lastly, have our government suddenly stopped promoting and encouraging technical education?? I thought they said technology is the bedrock of development?? If this is true then nigeria is in trouble. Britian changed their polytechnics to univerties after attaining the status of a developed country. Let us wait until we are fully developed like Japan, china, india and other countries before we start thinking of giving preference to theoretical education.

Let us wait as it is looking confusing

Consolidation of polytechnics’ll create 500,000 varsity spaces –Ezekwesili By Adelani Adepegba
The PUNCH
Published: Friday, 24 Nov 2006
Minister of Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has said that the current consolidation of polytechnics and colleges of education into campuses of neighbouring universities will provide 500,000 additional university admission opportunities.
She said the President had inaugurated a technical committee on the implementation of the initiative, which she said, offered a veritable solution to the bottlenecks of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

The Minister, who stated this at a symposium on Nigerian universities and international competitiveness of the Nigerian economy in Enugu on Thursday, noted that the current trend where only a paltry 1.5 million Nigerians were enrolled in universities posed a serious challenge to the nation‘s desire for economic transformation.

”At less than 3 per cent of our youthful population currently enrolled, we are clearly too far from the mark and will remain so, if drastic measures are not put in place.

“In 2005, an average of about 868,000 Nigerian youths sought admission to our universities out of which only 23 per cent were adjudged to have been successful (that is 200,000).

“Yet our universities have the capacity to absorb only about 150,000.

“The critical question that we must ask therefore, is where are the rest.?,” Ezekwesili queried.

According to her, the nation is in danger of mass producing miscreants, the disaffected, the misdirected, the unlearned, the angry, the wronged, agitated and the hopeless.

The Minister said that Nigerian universities must be returned to the citadels of learning that had produced great Nigerians, if they (the universities) were to become relevant to the country‘s economic aspirations.

Ezekwesili contended that while funding for any university was critical for investment in infrastructure, teaching and research, only an efficient deployment of existing resources would enable the realisation of value for competing resources.

She said that over the past seven years, the Obasanjo administration had increased funding to universities from N23.6bn in 2000 to N167bn in 2006, adding that each of the 25 federal universities had gotten over N1bn in capital projects in the last two years.

She disclosed that the National Universities Commission would institutionalise the publication of quarterly allocations/disbursements to universities as well as a framework for capturing and reporting all internally generated revenue of all federal universities to sustain transparent ”governance of resources.”

can someone give me the names of the polytechnics converted 2 university.

All Federal own polytechnic will take the status of nearby Federal University. Kaduna poly, Yaba College of Technology are now called CITY University.

So the issue of equating B.Sc to HND can be laid to rest

That is no more story.
HND and BSC are equal
Based on presidential order, Cross river and some states already implemented that. After the current Federal civil service reform in Dec. Official federal gazette will be out. Laws are made already, waiting to be signed as back up.

Discriminate against HND and risk 5 years jail term.

All that one na story. The education minister and other policy makers in education are all confused. They do not even know what they are doing. Do you think having more people or every body in a country with university Degrees will make the country develop technologically?? Do they think Britian, America, Japan, Korea, India and Brazil depended so much on university education and Degrees before attaining the status of DEVELOPED COUNTRY?? Let Nigeria encourage people to go into technology and develop the country first, after that theoretical education (University system) can be used to improve on the inventions. I must say it here again that Technical/Technological education (Polytechnic system of education) is inevitable for any nation that wants to develop.

Universities of Technology We all need degree abi

The Minister of Education, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has reinterated that the on-going reforms in the education sector was aimed at arresting the systemic rot that has bedevilled the sector and empowering the teaching/learning process that would make our school products competitive globally. According to Mr. Timothy Akpoili, Press Secretary to the minister, Ezekwesili disclosed this when the Director, British Council (Nigeria) Dr. John Richards, paid her a courtesy call in her office in Abuja.
Ezekwesili said the average Nigerian child has the potentials to excel academically but the environment in which the educational system operates creates a hitch for the child’s academic achievement. In order to remove the clog, she said, the Education Ministry is being repositioned for valuable policy formulation and monitoring of linkages for effective and efficient teaching learning processes. The minister disclosed further that in order to increase the number of academic spaces for admission into tertiary education (by over 500,000 per annum) and eliminate the HND/Bachelors degree dichotomy, the Federal Polytechnics and Federal Colleges of Education would be converted into campuses of proximate and contiguous Federal Universities. She, however, emphasised that this does not translate to the scrapping of any Polytechnics/College of Education, or staff rationalization or payment of higher fees.
In addition, the minister said the reforms incorporate a scheme known as Innovative Enterprise Institutions, which will be private sector driven.

The scheme would provide educational background for those with Special creative skills to thrive in their profession. Speaking earlier, Dr. John Richards, had said that his visit was to seek areas of cooperation with the Minister, and commended the Minister for the on-going reforms being witnessed in the education sector

www.thisdayonline.com

Polytechnics are not relevent in nigeria and should be scrapped completely. What i dont like is the idea of converting some into universities. If HND and polytechnics are no longer needed all polytechnics both state, federal and private should be closed down. NBTE should be closed down too because we are in an era of university education, no room for technical education. What government are saying is that everybody should go and get a university degree. No more middle level technicians again. Everybody in the enginnering sector will be Engineers with BEng Degrees. I wonder who will be holding spanners and screw-drivers during engineering projects.

Listen to NIGERIAN education MINISTER

the Education Ministry is being repositioned for valuable policy formulation and monitoring of linkages for effective and efficient teaching learning processes. The minister disclosed further that in order to increase the number of academic spaces for admission into tertiary education (by over 500,000 per annum) and eliminate the HND/Bachelors degree dichotomy, the Federal Polytechnics and Federal Colleges of Education would be converted into campuses of proximate and contiguous Federal Universities. [/color][color=#990000]

The End

No wonder Ghana is doing better than Nigeria. They still give priority to Vocational/Technical education as well as Technological education. They still respect and value people with HND from polytechnics.

Polytechnic must die, the only enemy of NSE

Reform of Education Ministry reaches critical stage
By Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/
THE reform of the Federal Ministry of Education has entered the critical stage and major decisions are likely to be to carried out in the next couple of weeks.

A competent source told The Guardian at the weekend that the panel set up to review to job schedule, qualification and conduct oral interviews for all the top officials of the ministry has almost completed its assignment. The source stated that the panel made major shocking discoveries, and sweeping changes are underway.

For instance, it was discovered that some of those in the director cadre have no requisite qualification to be at ministry, while some have not been meaningfully engaged in the last 10 years. Some of the assistant directors that could also not justify their positions are likely to be affected in the realignments to take place soon.

However, the effort to prune down the 21 parastatals has also been generating a lot of interest. The ministry had inaugurated a committee for the consolidation of the parastatals and streamline them for efficiency in the use of human and material resources. About six groups have so far been identified. They include the Capacity/Economic Development Group, which contains the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). These parastatals have been proposed for a merger into one agency in charge of tertiary level education Although, The Guardian learnt that the technical details are soon to be unveiled, there is some anxiety about how the merger will achieve its objective. First, each parastatal has a chief executive, with several other officers. Although, they are regulatory bodies, their modes of operations are quite different.

There is the Foundation Group, which will now have the parastatals responsible for primary and secondary education. Here, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Federal Inspectorate Service (FIS) are to be merged and then referred to as the Basic and Secondary Education Commission. Prof. Gidado Tahir, who heads UBEC will not find it difficult to welcome the FIS as its next door neighbour.

The Social Democratisation Group has the largest membership. They include the National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE), the National Mass Education Commission (NMEC), the National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN), the Nigerian French Village (NFLV) and the Nigerian Arabic Language Village. Apart from the NCNE and the NFVL, little is known about both the NMEC and the Arabic village. The NMEC has often complained about lack of funds, and nobody seems to know what the Arabic village is doing anyway.

The Examination Group is very critical. It contains the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB). These parastatals will not be merged. They are to come together under what has been described as a cohesive platform, a clearing house of sorts, but they are to retain their respective identities, functions and independence. The WAEC, of course, would not have been appropriate for a merger since it is not an entirely Nigerian affair.

The Education Resource Group is made up of the National Teachers Institute (NTI), the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA). They are to be merged into the Education Resource Commission. The problem here is with NIEPA, which, like WAEC, has an international dimension. It was established under the auspices of UNESCO, and it was to serve as a regional centre.

The Education Financing Group is made up of the Education Trust Fund (ETF) and the Federal Scholarship Board. The Teachers Registration Council (TRC) is to have full autonomy. The National Library of Nigeria will also stand on its own. The National Mathematical Centre will also remain distinct.

[b]On the consolidation of the tertiary institutions, the Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Ufot Ekaete had on November 7 inaugurated the Presidential Technical Committee for this purpose. The idea is to convert all Federal Polytechnics and Federal Colleges of Education to campuses of proximate contagious Federal Universities. But two of the oldest, Yaba College of Technology, and Kaduna Polytechnic have already been converted in principle to City universities. According to a statement by the ministry, the consolidation is to achieve five objectives: maintain the integrity of the course content and specialised focus of the programmes of polytechnics and colleges of Education, elevate the affiliate institutions to degree-awarding establishments; eliminate the HND/Bachelor degree dichotomy in the labour market; increase the volume of academic space for admission into tertiary level education, by over 500, 000 extra candidates per annum; and strengthen the commitment of the Federal Government to quality tertiary education.[/b]

However, the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) has asked for more clarification on the conversion of polytechnics into university campuses. According to statement by Mrs Felicia Onibon, the coalition's National Moderator, the ministry needs to explain if the intention is to replace technical education, meant to provide middle level manpower with university education, or if it is to encourage more students to enrol for technical, management, commercial courses of normal university courses.

On the Inspectorate Department, Onibon said, "to ensure continuity and sustainability, we wish to suggest the building of capacity for members of SBMCs in all schools to enable them participate in monitoring, evaluation and insepection of schools on a more regular basis. This would promote inclusion and participation in school governance by communities.

No country can do without middle-level manpower. Even Britian, Germany and America still churn out middle-level manpower for thier industries and research centers. Merging Technical education with university theoretical education is an amalgamation that will take Nigeria to no where. This is not the right time to do that.

Poly, Varsity Merger Will Improve Education – IMSU VC
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=64981

By Amby Uneze in Owerri, 12.05.2006


[b]Amby Uneze /b]These days, employers of labour have drawn a line between the university degree and the polytechnic’s Higher National Diploma (HND), preferring the former. How do you react to this?

[b]IMSU VC /b]This has been a recurring decimal in the Nigerian education system. If you recall by the year 1983 – 84, following the Cookey Commission report, there was a distinction that was created between the salaries of he various tertiary institutions. I think these emanated from the provisions of the policy of education in the country, because within the polity, there was a need to create various categories of manpower in the system; middle level manpower, high level manpower and the rest of them.
But of course, you must understand that the society is changing. I recall when the current President was a military Head of State, he tried to harmonize the graduates of the polytechnic with those of universities, but it did not work. The employers themselves sometime prefer some polytechnic graduates to university graduates in some professions. Even in the university here, there is an institutional organ called the congregation or the convocation. For you to be a member of the congregation, you should be a graduate and by the interpretation of the graduate, you have to be a degree holder. Because of that in the appointment of, say the Bursar, some accountants with HND are very good, some even become chartered accountants before university graduates, but you can not be a Bursar of the university with just HND, because if you do, you are no more qualified to be a member of the congregation. So such things are there.
Well the distinction can still be removed. This situation existed sometime in Britain. They looked at the curriculum of various institutions, modified them, up-graded the polytechnics to university status, to the extent that the polytechnics in Britain now offer B-tech, M-tech to Ph.D., so that in case of the lecturers, if you find yourself in the polytechnic, you can still remain there and become a professor. So it was done in such a way that the institutions could serve their primary role in the society, the role of producing technological manpower.
The danger in our system is that sometimes, we get carried away by credentials. When you set up a University of Technology, before you know it, the university will begin to offer degrees in medicine, management, even in education or that kind of stuff. For purposes of psychological balancing, it may be necessary and I want to state it here now; at the presidential forum which we attended very recently, in the Ministers’ presentation I think there is that proposal. As a matter of fact, they have even set up a Presidential committee to oversee the possibility of harmonizing the system. They are trying to experiment with Kaduna Polytechnic and Yaba College of Technology as city universities. So the polytechnic system is now gradually being phased out. They can now become either a college or department of universities that exist closely, like in the UK. This should improve the standard of education.

Poly/Varsity Consolidation ‘ll Provide 500,000 Admission – Ezekwesili
From Francis Ugwoke in Enugu, 11.24.2006

http://www.thisdayonline.com

Minister for Education, Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili,   yesterday said consolidation of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education  into campuses of neighbouring universities would  provide at least  500,000 additional  university admission.
Ezekwesili  said already, President Olusegun Obasanjo,  in a bid to increase access to university admission among Nigerian youths has  inaugurated technical committee that is currently working  out implementation of the consolidation exercise.

Will the universities train and produce middle-level man power?? will the universities run Technical/Technological courses?? Why won't government just empower polytechnics to run post graduate programs in Technology?? Is it all about university education?? Why??

Silsoe is a campus of Crankfield university yet it provide both Middle level and High level man power. So also some South African University, Canada and USA

Let us continue copying other countries until we copy no more. must we copy British and American styles?? Why can't we copy Chinese and Japanese styles??