Students urge Tinubu to probe alleged TVET exploitation, end HND discrimination
The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has called on President Bola Tinubu to order an immediate investigation into the alleged exploitation of students participating in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes by some polytechnic institutions across the country.
The association’s National President, Jimoh Ibrahim, made the call in a statement on Thursday, alleging that some institutions had commercialised the Federal Government’s TVET initiative by demanding payments from students before allowing them to participate in the programme.
He described the alleged practice as unacceptable, stressing that education interventions designed to equip students with practical skills should not be turned into avenues for exploitation or financial extortion.
Ibrahim urged the Federal Government and relevant regulatory agencies to investigate the allegations and sanction any institution found culpable, warning that NAPS would resist any attempt to exploit polytechnic students under the guise of implementing the TVET initiative.
According to him, the association would deploy all lawful and democratic means, including advocacy, formal petitions, strategic engagement, peaceful protests and legal action, if the alleged exploitation persists.
The NAPS president also renewed the association’s call for an end to the Higher National Diploma and Bachelor of Science dichotomy, describing it as one of the greatest injustices in Nigeria’s education system that has denied qualified polytechnic graduates equal opportunities in employment and career advancement.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim accused the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, of failing to support technical education, alleging that his actions were detrimental to the growth of the polytechnic sector and technological development in the country.
Consequently, NAPS called on Alausa to resign within 14 days, insisting that any minister who does not prioritise technical and vocational education is unfit to oversee the nation’s education sector.
