From Mfon Ekefre, Uyo
The management of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic has described as “false, baseless and with no iota of truth” report making the rounds in the institution that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has withdrawn all accreditations initially granted to the school.
Briefing newsmen on the issue, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr, Israel Affia, attributed the negative report to non-progressive elements in the institutions who have ganged up against him to truncate the decision of some progressives who support his interest to head the institution for a second term.
He described report as untrue, adding that it would not have come at a time that the school was enjoying the accolade of the Board over the high rating of the institution by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
He explained that apart from two programmes in the faculty of science that were on the interim accreditation status, all other programmes have been fully accredited by the NBTE some years ago, adding that some programmes were ripe to commence Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes.
He noted that although management had requested the board to visit the polytechnic for the verification of the two programmes currently on interim accreditation status, when to come depended upon the decision of the Board as management was expecting them any time from now.
Affia explained that the issue that kept the programme on interim status were minor ones which for example, could be that the Board had directed the polytechnic to have specific number of lecturers at Ph.D level to run a programme or provide classroom accommodation for students offering the programme.
On the issue of fees, Affia said an average student pays about N40,000 per session under several sub heads such as tuition, students union, examination media and library fees among others.
Counting the successes of his administration since 2013, he averred that a backlog of certificates that were not issued to graduates of the polytechnic had been issued, adding that the development has been a continuous exercise of his three years leadership.
Under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, (TETFUND) project his administration, with the approval of council, secured fund and completed the 2011 project and thereafter access the 2012/2013 fund for education of key projects and staff development programmes.
Affia said steps have been taken to accommodate students on campus with the completion of a fencing project and the renovation of the hostel blocks.
He said the previous administration acknowledges the situation of things, hence during the convocation, government made several pledges all aimed at moving the institution forward and urged the present government to look into the identified problems.
Affia warned “all detractors in whatever form or colour, against their campaign of calumny,” adding that the interest of the institution should be placed above individual or group interest, saying as one who has been in the system for a long time before becoming the rector, he is privileged to understand the problems of the polytechnic more than anyone in the institutions.
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