INTERVIEW: Why some Polytechnic graduates can’t get direct entry – Taraba Poly Rector
In recent years some graduates of Polytechnics across the country are unable to secure Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) direct entry examination to further their studies. In this interview with Chuwang Dungs in Jalingo, the rector of Taraba State Polytechnic Suntai and the North East coordinator of Council of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology (COHEADS), Ayuba Abershi, explained the reason for the development.
DAYLIGHT REPORTERS: We learnt that recently, students that graduate from this institution are having challenges of furthering their studies. What exactly is the situation?
Abershi: Yes it is actually true, it as been a nightmare to me as head of the institution, but the issue is not only restricted to Taraba State Polytechnic is a national issue, what really happened is that all this years the template for direct entry from JAMB has a provision for national diploma and provision for other diploma, the national diploma is credited to schools that have received blessings of accreditation while the other diploma is a provision made by JAMB to accommodate programme run by schools either in the process of getting those programs accredited or are yet to.
But recently between 2021 and 2022 JAMB changed their policy by removing the provision for other diplomas, leaving only national diplomas. As I am talking to you now some of my students are doing their PHD because of the provision of this other diploma, they were given direct entry to 200 level and they performed brilliantly, for instance those of them that got admission in Federal University Wukari graduated with first class and they are leading in most of the departments. I do a little follow up studies on my students. Apart from what the school is doing to know how our graduates are fairing in their studies and work, their results are good. I can categorically say that our ex students are doing very well in the wealth of work as well as in their studies.
With the new policy heads of tertiary institutions are now running helter skelter to ensure that all the programs offered in our institutions are accredited. Like for me personally, I have been working towards that since I came in, I came with a blueprint which I gave the former chief executive. He okayed them and they were captured in the budget year in year out, but probably because of financial constraints the finances were not released. We thank God we are where we are now, all the programs have scale through for accreditation because I have received a letter from the regulatory body that all the programs we floated for accreditation have scale through even though there are some little amendments, that’s mean we will soon start HND as soon as we graduate this set we will start admitting students for national diploma and the set we start with at the national diploma level will be the set to start the HND program.
We are still pleading for the support of the education friendly and passionate governor, Agbu Kefas to still come to our aid. We really appreciate him for the support, he has shown commitment not only to the growth of the institution but the state at large.
DAYLIGHT REPORTERS: You were recently appointed as the North East coordinator of Council of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria (COHEADS) How do you feel?
Abershi: Yes, I am grateful to God, that appointment was done by the COHEADS, a group that regulates the Polytechnics and colleges of technology in Nigeria. In their wisdom they felt that I am qualified to assume that office, it comes with a lot of responsibilities, while I am working here I am also working towards moving the schools in the north east forward. As I am talking to you now we are floating a north east zonal template, we are looking at the women angle, we are looking at sensitizing the public concerning achievements in science and technology by the Polytechnics and colleges of technology in the north east, I asked the rectors to see how they can fit in appropriately. I am receiving good reports from them.
DAYLIGHT REPORTERS: With these new achievements, what is your call for the students?
Abershi: My call to them is that as they are coming back to meet a rector that is not a rector of not only Taraba State Polytechnic but a rector with six states under him, so they are not coming back to meet an individual that his mind is just narrowed on a particular section of the state, they are coming to meet someone that now have a wider scope of thought on leadership, planning on leadership and approach on leadership. I will need more of their cooperation, more commitment to their studies and stay away from the culture of cultism, nudity and every form of rascality.
DAYLIGHT REPORTERS: What do you think is the measure problem faced by tertiary institutions in the country?
Abershi:Funding affects virtually everything. I just finished a course on quality assurance in education, when they talk about funding. There was this assignment they gave us. Is funding the overall issue in education? Of course, I said yes, before the result was released the man made some statements which was countering what I said to some extent but when the score came out I got 30 over 30 because I said funding is everything, are you talking about books, are you talking about water, are you talking about diesel, are you talking about cars, needs of staff, so funding is actually everything. But there is another key aspect which is management, because even with the funds if things are not properly managed it becomes a problem, however everything is tight on money like the issue of accreditation is basically on funding, because if you want to hire the right staff it means money, if you want to upgrade facilities it means money.
DAYLIGHT REPORTERS: Last year you had an interaction with artisans in the state with the aim of partnering with them in terms of training. Can we know how far with the program?
Abershi: In fact we have gathered a lot and we are set for action because as I speak with you now we have some equipment and we have started production in the Polytechnic.
DAYLIGHT REPORTERS: Are people enrolling?
Abershi: That one we talked about is the one that we are going to train them so that they can get a formal certificate. Is like formalizing the informal sector. As we are formalizing them we are going into collaboration and it will bring out a lot of things. What we have here we showcase it and we help them imbibe the culture of technology that we have and what they have they also showcase it. They have a lot out there. I have a friend in this state that is producing airplanes. He was given an award by the federal government in the last regime. They have a lot to offer. As we are training them we also gain by assisting our staff because not all of them pass through institutions that gave them practical experience. Is not enough to say someone is an engineer and cannot practice, you can only be carrying a big certificate without the skills. We have equipment here that some of us never saw when we were in school. So we need persons with practical experience to guide us.
