National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has sought the support of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to stop the operations of illegal satellite campuses of polytechnics and monote-chnics.
Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, made the call during the board’s delegation visit to the ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, in Abuja.
Bugaje disclosed that the operations of the satellite campuses was one of the major challenges confronting the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector in the country.
He noted that he created the Polytechnic Inspectorate Department when he resumed office in 2021, to monitor illegal operations on satellite campuses.
According to him,”we have identified 12 of such illegal institutions that have been admitting students without approval from the NBTE, outside the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board System and illegally collecting fees.They are not offering the required training but issuing certificates. This is going to destroy the TVET sector.
“We wrote to them, asking them to close up but they remained adamant. This is why the collaboration with the ICPC is very crucial,” he said.
Bugaje revealed that the board had resolved to convert Vocational and Enterprise Institutions (VEIs) and Innovation Enterprise Institutions (IEIs) to Monotechnic, following recent meeting with stakeholders on the VEIs and IEIs
In his response, Owasanoye lauded the board for the visit and pledged the commission’s support in curbing illegal satellite campuses across the country.
Owasanoye called for a meeting with rectors of polytechnics across the country for all to be on the same page in the fight.
“As you are probably aware, we do have a platform of collaboration in the education sector.
“We will be glad to do what we can with NBTE to curb the menace of satellite campuses of TVET institutions,” the ICPC boss said.