THE proposed conversion of Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), Lagos, and Kaduna Polytechnic (Kadpoly) to universities will cost the Federal Government a whopping N37 billion. The institutions are expected to full degree awarding institutions in October, 2011.

The two ministerial committees set up by the Federal Government on the conversion of the institutions made this known in Abuja, while submitting their reports to the Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, late Tuesday.

The reports also invalidated the bill currently before the National Assembly on the conversion of polytechnics and colleges of education into degree awarding institutions.

The minister said that the bill, which had already passed the second reading in the House of Representatives, would be withdrawn because of certain lacuna as contained in the recommendations of the committees.

Chairman of the Ministerial Committee on Conversion of Yabatech into University, Professor Murtala Salau, during his presentation said Yabatech had the requisite rank, structure and quantum of personnel to take care of the new university.

He added that the new university if finally approved would require N8 billion as annual subventions in addition to N2 billion during the transition period as capital grant. The committee also recommended that 30 per cent, each of capital as well as the recurrent about N13million be given as seed money.

On the other hand, the Chairman for the Conversion of Kadpoly into a University, Professor Salihu Junaidu, gave a conservative estimate of recurrent budget of N13 billion, and N12 billion capital budget in addition to a special transition grant for the University to take off fully next year.
He said the capital budget was on the high side because of the dilapidation and deplorable condition of some physical and instructional facilities, including laboratory equipment that were needed to be replaced.

However, both committees were unanimous in their recommendations for dual mode of operation-running National Diploma alongside the first degrees- in the two universities because of their specialized nature.

The committees also recommended five years for the first degree programmes to give room for SIWESS (Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme) and acquisition of practical experience in line with the National Universities Commission (NUC) standard of 60 per cent theory and 40 per cent practical.

They further recommended that 70 per cent of ND students should be given admission to do their degree programme in the schools, while the remaining 30 per cent comes from JAMB, “because we want to make ND also relevant in these universities.”
Professor Rufa’i said the report would be forwarded to President Goodluck Jonathan for his blessings. Accordingly, two institutions would stop admitting students into Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes, beginning from next year, if the reports were approved by the president.

She disclosed that the Federal Government had already earmarked the sum of N12 billion for replacement of obsolete equipment in about 52 federal tertiary institutions and that the fund would go a long way to address some of the recommendations of the committees.

another scam

so we should contribute and give them d money?

Who is fooling who?
Yaba, release HND list o.

Who is fooling who?
Yaba, release HND list o.