An exodus of teachers has hit the premier polytechnic in the north, Kaduna Polytechnic (Kadpoly), following the delay by the Federal Government to live up to its pledge in converting the institution into a City Technical University.
It was gathered that Most of the lecturers that abandoned the Polytechnic in search of greener pasture were the bulk of its experienced hands, particularly those with Doctor of Philosophy (P.hd) in the various Colleges and departments of the polytechnic.
Besides, the newly constituted Polytechnic Governing Council’s Chairman, Chief Sergeant Awuse, at the inaugural meeting last week, said that effort would be geared up to ensure that Federal Government live up to its pledge to convert the institution into a City Technical University, and also halt the brain-drain affecting the institution.
According to Awuse, “ I think Kaduna Polytechnic is overdue to have been converted to University, going by the amount of infrastructural facilities, technical equipments and the manpower strength we have here”.
“ It is an open secret that the Polytechnic has three broad based
Colleges located outside the main campus and each of these Colleges can stand as a campus of any of the university we have in the country today.
I think Kaduna Polytechnic is overdue to be converted to University and this Board will try its best to advise government accordingly”.
However, Chief Awuse frown at the level of indebtedness of the Polytechnic, saying that parts of the mission of the new Board of the Polytechnic was to ensure that we reposition the Institution “away from its old ways and ensure that things are done properly”.
“Going by the documents before me, the financial books of the Polytechnic is in a mess. The level of overheads and indebtedness is nothing to write home about.
We are here to turn the institution around, and also make sure that things go according to the rules and laws governing the institutions. We are not going to tolerate all those old ways and we are not here for contract awards”.
“The issue of the conversion of the Polytechnic to University or degree awarding institution will be pursued with vigour and
determination especially now that the Minister of Education has made it as her administration’s top priority”, Awuse stated.
Besides, the Rector of Kadpoly, Dr. Mohammed Bello Ibrahim, in an address lamented that “the issue of not converting the Polytechnic to City Technical University as announced by the Federal Government in 2006 is still pending”, noting that “the non-realization of this noble intention of the Government has affected the Polytechnic negatively as the institution keeps on losing lecturers with doctorate degrees to Universities daily”.
Ibrahim argued: “ if the thinking of this administration is to make the Polytechnic Degree awarding institution instead of outright convertion to University, let it be done now as delay will further cripple the institution”.
Though, the Rector explained that the Minister has shown considerable interest on the issue of the conversion of the Polytechnic, however, he said, “what the Council needs to do now is just a little push in order to realize the noble objective”.
The chairman of the Kadpoly branch of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Comrade Mustapha Yahaya Bida remarked that the Polytechnic would realize its potentials fully when it has been converted into a university, as he lamented that “the daily exodus of lecturers with doctorates out of the total number of 200 of them in the Polytechnic is a serious concern”.
Bida queried: “how many of the first generation Universities in the country had up to 200 P.hd holders as lecturers when they started operating, not to even talk of the new Universities that are now being accredited to operate… we as Union members will support the new Board of Kaduna Polytechnic to ensure that they succeed in their work and turn the institution a new leaf.
We shall provide documents for them to also work with, and also expose the rots of the past.
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