Conversion of Polytechnics into Universities: An Existential Threat to Nigerian Technical Education

This article extensively discusses the poorly thought-out conversion of polytechnics into universities across Nigerian states, which has greatly affected the subsistence of these institutions. It also critiques the unfounded discrimination against HND graduates in both public service and private organizations, which discourages potential candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) from applying for admission into technical schools. Furthermore, it exposes the subtle attempt to exterminate these institutions through negative policies that are primarily sponsored to undermine and demarket the system.

The National Policy on Education (2019), as amended, mandates polytechnics to produce human resources in applied sciences, commerce, management and technology through full-time and part-time courses of instruction and training. Njoku (2021) also emphasizes that these institutions have a practical and highly interactive orientation, adopting technological advancements to provide pedagogical approaches to teaching and learning. The polytechnic system was established to champion technical and vocational education and training, including skills development and technological advancements towards the improvement of Nigerian socio-economic plans (FGN, 2004).