Varsity education not for all, says Rector

The Rector, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) in Ondo State, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, has decried the negative attitude of students and government towards Technical and Vocational Education (TVE).

Delivering the maiden seminar of the institution with a theme: Building a 21st Century Polytechnic: Issues and challenges, Ajibefun lamented that millions of admission seekers prefer the university as their first choice but only opt for polytechnics, where TVE training is offered, when they are not admitted into the university.

He said Nigeria’s pre-occupation with university education has reduced economic opportunities of those who are more oriented towards vocational work than academic, stressing that not everyone needs a university education.

The Rector described technical education as the engine for economic growth, adding that any nation which seeks rapid development must pay greater attention to polytechnic education.

He said the emphasis on theory is the reasons graduates lack “employability” skills, which can be acquired from TVE institutions.

As a result of disregard for TVE, the Rector said Nigeria now lacks skilled technicians for crucial sectors of the economy.

He said: “While TVE has continued to thrive in many societies, Nigerians have not seen it as important. Consequently, the society lacks skilled technicians: bricklayers, carpenters, painters and auto mechanics, among others.

“The half-baked roadside mechanics in the society cause more harm to vehicles when contracted to service vehicles. The poor performance of Nigeria’s house builders (such as bricklayers, e.t.c) is no longer news.

”It is no longer stranger for competent technicians to come from neighbouring countries. Most of the so-called expatriate engineers who are heavily paid in construction companies in Nigeria are graduates of technical and vocational colleges.

”Yet Nigerians do not take technical instititions seriously. Building a 21st century polytechnic would require proactive actions from stakeholders”.

Unlike Nigeria, Ajibefun said developed nations like America, Canada, United Kingdom and others are able to improve on their economy due to their appreciation of TVE skills.

Ajibefun said: “The Dutch school system is said to pay attention to high standards in mathematics and the provision of vocational education at ages 14-16 for a third of all pupils, and widespread vocational education at 16 above. Secondary schools in many other development-conscious nations have vocational centre that offer vocational training for lifelong trade together with general academic studies.

”For instance, India and the “Asian Tigers” could not have been become what they are without massive investment in technical education.

“Long before the Europeans arrived, education had been part of Nigerians. The Children were taught about their culture, social activities, survival skills and work. Most of these education processes were impacted into the children informally; a few of these societies gave a more formal teaching of the society and culture. This has been the culture in Nigeria.”

The Rector restated his commitment in ensuring that RUGIPO students are employable as they get 90 per cent praticial training and only 10 per cent theory work.