Guidelines and Procedures for Establishment of Private Polytechnics
GENERAL
The Technical Institutions to be affected by these guidelines are those established or to be established to offer vocational, technical, technology or professional education and training programmes at the tertiary level such as Polytechnics and Monotechnics which produce technicians and technologists and other professionals or similar level of business and related manpower in Nigeria. The National Council on Education approved the following definitions for a polytechnic or a Monotechnics at its Sokoto meeting held in 1987:
1.A Polytechnic is a technical institution offering post-secondary technical education programmes leading to the award of diplomas/certificates such as the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND). The products of these institutions will have entry level employment skills to function as technicians, higher technicians/technologists or professionals, depending on the level of training, in their fields of specialization. A polytechnic may also be involved in applied research, and perform any other functions that its Council may require it to perform from time to time. The minimum entry requirement is the SSSC/GCE O’Level with credit passes in at least five subjects relevant to the programme or their equivalents.
2.A Monotechnics is similar to a polytechnic in all respects except that it offers a mono-disciplinary or a cluster of related programmes such as Agriculture, Engineering, Catering and Hotel Management, Surveying, Accountancy, etc. without combining all of them.
POLICY GUIDELINES
In line with the provisions of CAP E3 LFN 2004, any individual or voluntary organization may establish a Polytechnic or Monotechnics to offer tertiary technical/technological education programmes. For this purpose the following policy guidelines shall apply:
1.1Level of Programmes to be offered by Institution
The institutions to be established shall offer mainly Programmes leading to the award of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND). It may also offer certificate courses where these are required to meet specific needs of the community where it is located.
1.2Nomenclature of Institution
The proposed institution shall be properly designated with a descriptive title similar to titles of existing government owned institutions offering similar Programmes in the country. In the case of a Monotechnics, the discipline shall form part of the title, e.g. College of Agriculture, College of Surveying, etc.
1.3Purpose of the Institution
The proposed institution shall have a clearly defined vision and mission, which shall be in consonance with the national philosophy, aims and objectives of technology education at the polytechnic and similar tertiary level institutions as contained in the National Policy on Education (NPE).
1.4Programmes to be offered by Polytechnics and Monotechnics
All Polytechnics must plan to offer the core engineering, science and management Programmes. These include programmes such as Computer, Chemical, Mining, Civil, Electrical & Electronics, and/or Mechanical Engineering, as well as Applied Sciences and Management programmes. In addition are courses in the basic sciences – mathematics, chemistry, biology and physics as well as courses in Entrepreneurship and General Studies.
A Monotechnics curriculum shall include the professional courses needed to practice in the field at the level of training, Entrepreneurship and General Studies. A Monotechnics that offers a technology-based programme must also have in its curriculum, the basic sciences – mathematics, chemistry, biology and physics as courses, depending on the fields of specialization.
1.5Non-Discrimination in Student and Staff Recruitment
The institution shall admit its students and recruit its staff from among Nigerians without any discrimination on the basis of ethnic derivation, gender, religion, social status or political persuasion.