From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
The Rector of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwanna, Afikpo in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Dr Felix Attah has said that the dichotomy between university graduates and their counterparts from the polytechnics was still a challenging issue.
He said despite pronouncements by the Federal Government abrogating the dichotomy, the issue has persisted and become a very big problem in the education system, causing low student enrollment in the polytechnic sector.
Attah stated this during the 44th matriculation ceremony of the polytechnic.
A total of 1, 248 National Diploma and 1, 249 Higher National Diploma and 27 part-time students were matriculated by the polytechnic. Attah called for an end to the dichotomy to encourage polytechnic education in Nigeria. He opined that the polytechnic sector should be accorded its due priority in the country for national development.
He noted that the polytechnic sector today was facing challenges from different quarters as a result of the nation’s economy which has been struggling to beat negative headwinds caused by dwindling resources for sustainable development in the sector.
“The intervention lines for infrastructural development in polytechnics are getting leaner in spite of the best efforts of TETFUND and other agencies.
“The regulatory environment has also shrunk due to the operating space of the polytechnics with the result that what used to be taken for granted in the past, like admission of students, and floating of new programmes, now require strict regulatory approval to navigate,” he said.
Attah warned the new students of the institution against dishonesty, examination malpractice, forgery, cultism, intimidation of fellow students, rape, stealing and poor academic performance, noting that those that indulge in such untoward practices would be rusticated.