KADPOLY rector, Bugaje, wants varsities converted to polytechnics

At a time that the Federal Government is converting polytechnics into universities, Rector of Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna State, Prof. Idris Bugaje, thinks differently.

The Federal Government recently approved the scrapping of the award of the Higher National Diploma (HND) by the nation’s polytechnics, as well as, the scrapping of all programmes currently being run by the polytechnics, which are not technology-based.

But Bugaje, who spoke to newsmen in Kaduna State, wants the government to follow the example recently showed by China.

He said: “China three months ago converted 160 universities to polytechnics so that they will provide the middle-level manpower to move the Chinese economy forward.

But at the moment we have more universities than polytechnics, so we are doing it in the reverse order in this country.

“For every single university, there should be nothing less than five polytechnics so that we can support the engineers.

An engineer is trained to do design, but who implements the design and brings it into reality?

Who does the fabrication, commission and installation of every plant?

Is it not the technologists? So, we need more technologist than engineers.

I am not against the move, but I would like Kaduna Polytechnic to maintain this tradition of awarding national diploma and HND.

Those who want to go degrees in engineering or technology can do that and at the end, meet together and do their Master’s of Technology even up to doctorate.

I think that will be the best approach for this country to adopt.”

Bugaje, who said he does not want to go against the tide since the government is bent on converting the Kaduna Polytechnic into university, stressed that converting universities to polytechnics would bring about a good number of practical oriented personnel to solve national developmental issues that are on ground.
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