Polytechnic education in Kano state
By Dr. M. I. ABDU
AS lofty as these goals are, what is the situation in our polytechnics today? Is the enabling environment provided for the attainment of these goals with regards to physical facilities, infrastructure, staffing, students, funding and relevant curricula etc? (N Yakubu, 2004).
It may be relevant at this time to recall that in colonial Nigeria, the shortage of British- trained technical manpower informed the need to train indigenous manpower to take over some of the skilled jobs available to reduce the financial burden on the colonial government (Yabani, et al: 1999). This was what led to the establishment of departmental training schools.
Objectives of Kano state polytechnic (2005)
The objectives of Kano state polytechnic shall be:
a: To provide diverse instruction, training and research in the technology, the science, commerce, humanity as well as any other spheres of learning which may from time to time be approved by the council.
b: To provide courses of in service instructions for members of the public service and to the extent that the Council deem proper, courses of the like nature for persons unconnected with any of the public service.
c : To provide through teaching, reseach and other means, the advancement of knowledge, and its practical application to the needs of the community, and
d : To award diplomas and certificates relating to such fields of learning to students who qualify for such awards.
Students
The purpose of setting up any institution is to train students, in order to provide the needed manpower for the state or nation. Without the students there cannot be any polytechnic or any institution of higher learning for that matter. A polytechnic, like any other educational institution is as good as its products current and graduated students. This underline the need to have the best possible candidates among applicants that are admitted into the polytechnic each year. Unfortunately, this has not been the case as some poorly qualified candidates are admitted due to some form of pressure on the polytechnic management and other factors. The problems of fake or forged results and certificates further exacerbate the issue.
As if these are not enough, there are major problems of inadequate lecture halls and learning materials etc these are problems that are creating major concern to the polytechnic administration. The cumulative effect of this is a student body, which is ill- prepared and does not have the flair for polytechnic education. Such students are susceptible to examination malpractices, indiscipline and cultism.
Cultism
Kano state Polytechnic is blessed not to have this manace but the problem has reached such an alarming dimension that the government and regulatory agencies in the country are always making issues of it. Not having cult problems now, does not mean we should rest our oars on students discipline on our campuses.
Examination malpractice
The state of education in general cannot be said to be healthy without an overhaul of the moral tone of institutions. The spate of this menace which was relatively unknown or of neglilgible incidence before, has become so rampant now and have taken a new dimension with the active involvement of some unscrupulous academic staff of easy virtue. For credibility and honour management has to deal with this with assistance of both staff and students.
Polytechnics are expected to attain an enrolment of at least 70:30 ratio between science/ technology and art/business programmes. This has not been achieved by Kano state Polytechnic or as a matter of fact by any other polytechnic in the country; the other way round is the case. An NBTE survey in 2001 supports this where a ratio of 65:35 was documented. This trend is an indicator that the primary focus of the objective of polytechnic establishment is being lost.
Quality assurance and maintenance of minimum standards
The NBTE was, in 1985 vested with powers of maintenance of standards in the polytechnics education nation wide. This has done wonders to the polytechnic system especially state and private ones where it concerns funding by proprietors.
Curricula of the polytechnic
The curricula of the late 1980s and early 1990s are still in use in some institutions. How relevant are these today, and how do they serve the society? Presently though, efforts have been made and some programme curricular have been developed and are being used.
Physical facilities
From the year 2003 when enrolment was below 10,000 students, to the year 2006 when there was more than 50 per cent increase in students enrolment, how much development has occurred in relation to physical facilities?
Staffing
Staffing particularly academic staff of the right quality and quantity is a serious problem confronting the polytechnic. Following the federal government directives for the scrapping of HND programmes and replacing it with B. Tech, polytechnics lecturers across the country have between now and 2011 to obtain their second degree or risk losing their jobs. (Kanopoly News, 2008) How many of us in this system have the intention of attaining this? Or how many will stay after they get second degree?
This situation emphasizes on the urgent need for an aggressive staff development programme in the system, for all staff but academic staff in particular. This should be done promptly so that we can take advantage of the situation.
Funding
The quality of products and the performance of any tertiary institution have a common denominator apart from the initial input i.e quality of students; this denominator of course is funding. This is predominantly where the proprieter has the biggest role. But today we have to go on the lookout for IGR be it through consultancy, donor agencies, philanthropists etc.
Societal assessment of Polytechnic education
The Gray Longe Commission on the review of higher education observed the anxiety in polytechnics arising from; placing limits to the career progression of products of polytechnics in the public service and lack of opportunities for the products to achieve progression beyond HND leve, professional registration and the general perception of university graduates as being of higher social status than the products of Polytechnics etc.
Conclusion
The theme of this conference 'Polytechnic System Under the Current Educational Reforms in Nigeria" is an apt topic of discussion. From information I gathered, it is important to note these:
1. Education is on the concurrent list in Nigeria
2. We have a habit of formulating very good policies but we always seem to get derailed during the process of implementation or end up not implementing as planned.
3. Very many a times, we introduce another direction before we allow the current one to reach a stage for adequate appraisal.
4. We are lucky that the proposed reforms where polytechnics were merged with universities did not see the light of day
5. Considering the out put of our Senior Secondary Schools in Kano and the situation in our present day tertiary institutions in the state, should we not consider increasing the number of these institutions?
Distinguish ladies and gentlemen my wish is to exite your thoughts on the tertiary education system of our dear state, particularly Kano state Polytechnic and encourage you to consider and proffer solutions.

DR. ABDU is Deputy Vice Chancellor, Kano University of Sciene and Technology, Wudil. He presented this paper as a keynote address at the first National Conference of Kano state Polytechnic held at the School of Management Studies, Kano state Polytechnic on October 28, 2008.