COREG asks FG to reinvigorate skills acquisition in schools

The Conference of Registrars of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria (COREG) has called on the Federal Government to reinvigorate entrepreneurial skills acquisition in schools to arrest the prevalent youth unemployment.

Rising from its 71st regular meeting held at the Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, the conference called for a review of the education policy in favour of reintroducing craft and vocations at the Junior Secondary School level to provide the foundation for technical and vocational skills for self employment, job creation, technological development and industrialisation.

COREG, in a communiqué signed by its chairperson and registrar, Yaba College of Technology, Mrs Charity Amakapabo, urged the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to put machinery in motion for the establishment of a standing national conference of polytechnic and colleges of technology.

This, it noted, would serve as a common forum for management and other stakeholders to address common and emerging issues affecting polytechnic education in Nigeria.

Decrying the second rate position of polytechnics in funds allocation by the Tertiary Education Fund (TETFund), the conference enjoined TETFund to give priority to funding technical and vocational education to achieve the desired acquisition of practical training for technological advancement of the nation.

It also called for an urgent roundtable renegotiation of agreement between the Federal Government and the staff unions of polytechnics, adding that “both parties should be patriotic, realistic and honest in their positions in the interest of industrial harmony and national development.”

COREG commended the Plateau State government for implementing the 65-year retirement age for employees of the state polytechnic and its other tertiary institutions.