NBTE enlists COREN on review of engineering curriculum

Prof Idris Bugaje, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, has described the current National Diploma and Higher National Diploma curriculum for engineering courses in polytechnics as not fit for the 21st Century.

He, therefore, expressed readiness to collaborate with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria to rebuild the engineering curriculum in Nigeria’s secondary, polytechnic and mono-technic institutions.

The NBTE is a board of education that supervises, regulates and oversees educational programmes offered by technical institutions at secondary, polytechnic and mono-technic levels through an accreditation process in Nigeria, while COREN is a regulating body of engineers in the country.

Speaking while playing host to a delegation from the COREN, led by its President, Prof Sadiq Abubakar, in Kaduna, Bugaje promised that the board, under his leadership, would work with the COREN to reposition the profession to a global standard.

“We are committed to working together with COREN so that we can achieve the best for engineering in Nigeria.

“Some of our ND and HND engineering curriculums are no longer fit for the 21st century. They have not been reviewed in over 20 years. Our budget has been abysmally low to carry out the review,” he said.

Bugaje also lamented the current budget allocation of N50m from the Federal Government, saying it was inadequate for the review of the curriculum.

He then appealed to COREN to spearhead the fundraising for the review of the curriculum.

“We need to lean on COREN to lead the way for us; to raise funds for the review of curriculum so that we can do it jointly with COREN because they have the cream of the engineering professionals in COREN,” he said.

Responding, the COREN president disclosed that about 126 technical colleges in the country were not regulated and, therefore, they had lost their quality and standards.

“Technical colleges feed into the mono-technics and polytechnics, where the end is almost dead in the colleges.

“The future of this country in the area of Technical and Vocational Education and Training is in jeopardy if we don’t sit down to address the gaps,” Abubakar said.

Also, Bugaje charged the management of federal polytechnics in the country to shun all acts of illegalities, including over-enrolment.

Represented by the Zonal Director, South-South zonal office of the NBTE, Mr Cyril Mbong, he gave the charge on the occasion of the maiden matriculation ceremony of the Federal Polytechnic, Orogun, in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

He prompted the management of the institution to create an enabling environment that would encourage the students to exhibit their latent gifts.

Over 150 students were matriculated to NBTE-approved ND programmes in the Department of Business Administration and Management, Department of Statistics, and Department of Accounting of the institution at the event.

Speaking earlier, Dr Duke Okoro, the Rector of FEPO, while admitting the matriculation oaths on the pioneer students, advised them to “embrace the values of integrity, perseverance and innovation in the course of their academic pursuits in the polytechnic.”

“Let this institution be not just a place of learning, but a platform for growth, exploration and self-discovery.

“Here, you will not only acquire knowledge but also cultivate skills, nurture talents and foster lifelong friendships. I, therefore, encourage you to actively engage in extracurricular activities, participate in community service initiatives and seize every opportunity to broaden your horizons.”