Monday, April 29, 2013

FG halts post-HND, PGD programmes run by Polytechnics

 
....says don't  certificate to chieftaincy title

Federal Government, today, Monday, declare all post-Higher National Diploma programmes being run by some Polytechnics as illegal.

Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai, Minister of Education gave the directive in Abuja during the inauguration of Governing Councils for National Teachers Institute (NTI), National Educational Research Development Council (NERDC), 15 Federal Polytechnics and 19 Federal Colleges of Education across the country.

The minister who warned against breach of the establishing legislative Act which established the Polytechnic education, noted that Post Graduate Diploma program is not within the mandate of polytechnics.

Rufai further warned that no polytechnic convocation must hold without certificates being issued to graduating students.

She added that Provosts and Registrars of Colleges of Education must sign NCE certificates as obtained in Polytechnics and Universities.

Rufai said "polytechnics should stop the running of Post HND programs (Post Graduate Diploma) which is outside their mandate. The Provost and Registrar of Colleges of Education should sign NCE certificates as obtained in Polytechnic and Universities.

"Issuance of certificates to graduating students is a prerequisite for approval for holding convocations: thus no certificate , no convocation"

While addressing the inaugurated councils' members, Rufai urged them to encourage responsive unionism in their respective institutions while also arresting the problem of cultism, drug abuse and other social vices by students.

She noted that effective strategies should also be developed for the early detection and eradication of all forms of vices such as examination malpractice, sexual harassment, extortion, inducement, loss of examination scripts and results.

The Minister warned the councils not to be lured into turning the prestigious fellowship awards to chieftaincy title affairs.