The National Board for Technical Education(NBTE) has responded to concerns raised by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) regarding the proposed outsourcing of quality assurance activities.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the NBTE clarified that the outsourcing would be limited to physical accreditation exercises and only for institutions lacking the necessary ICT infrastructure to access its digital accreditation platform.
The ASUP President, Shammah Kpanja, had earlier rejected the plan, describing it as an attempt to commercialize polytechnic regulation and undermine the integrity of the accreditation process. The NBTE’s decision to outsource physical accreditation exercises has sparked a heated debate among stakeholders in the education sector.
The NBTE emphasized that the digital platform remained the primary method for accreditation and quality assurance processes, fully under the Board’s control. The outsourcing model, according to the NBTE, applies only to institutions that are unable to log into the existing digital platform.
Key Points
– *Limited Outsourcing*: The outsourcing will be limited to physical accreditation exercises.
– *Institutions without ICT Infrastructure*: The outsourcing will only apply to institutions lacking the necessary ICT infrastructure.
– *Transparency and Integrity*: The outsourcing model is structured to maintain transparency, prevent conflicts of interest, and uphold the integrity of the accreditation process.
The ASUP has expressed concerns that the outsourcing of physical accreditation exercises could lead to a compromise in the quality of education offered by polytechnics. The union has also argued that the decision to outsource accreditation exercises is a clear indication of the government’s intention to commercialize education.
The controversy surrounding the NBTE’s decision to outsource physical accreditation exercises has significant implications for the education sector. The debate highlights the need for a clear and transparent regulatory framework for polytechnic education in Nigeria.
The NBTE’s clarification on the outsourcing of physical accreditation exercises has provided some insight into the Board’s decision-making process. However, the controversy surrounding the issue highlights the need for continued dialogue and engagement among stakeholders in the education sector.
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