An estimated 296 programmes at both the National Diploma(ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in 28 Polytechnics, Monotechnics and Specialised institutions spread across the North East and South West geo-political zones would undergo the accreditation processes of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

The accreditation exercise which comes under the second phase, will begin from the end of this month to the end of October with a special training programme for Chairmen of accreditation panels drawn from the academia, professional bodies and the organised private sector scheduled to hold in Kaduna on Thursday..

The Executive Secretary of NBTE, Engr Dr Nuru A. Yakubu who spoke on the exercise said about 150 panels headed by Members of professional bodies with membership from the academia and organised private sector have been put in place to ensure a hitch free exercise.

He explained that unlike in the previous exercises, resources persons in this year's exercise were selected online after responding to an advertorial that set out certain criteria bordering on academic qualification, experience and expertise in the relevant disciplines.

Dr Yakubu who stated that the exercise is being undertaken jointly with professional bodies, revealed that the NBTE had signed an M.O.U with about five professional bodies eliminate mutiple accreditation and reduce the burden on the institutions visited, pointing out that any programme that is subjected to joint accreditation of NBTE and the Professional Bodies enjoys concurrent accreditation.

Besides, the Executive Secretary who disclosed that the Board came up with the idea of organising training workshop for the resource persons with a view to getting them acquainted with the objectives of the exercise, said already the Board's accreditation teams had visited instiutions under its purview located in the North West and South East geo-political zones.

He reiterated the resolve of the Board to ensure that the time-tested system of quality assurance it has put place over the years is not compromised, adding that the wide range of reform initiatives in the Technical and Vocational Education(TVE) sector, it has become imperative for institutions to also adopt internal quality assurance mechanisms.


Lawal Y. Hafiz
Head, Media and Publicity.