Obasempire reports that some polytechnic graduates faced significant humiliation at the NYSC orientation camp yesterday.
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They were outrightly rejected due to the absence of their Industrial Training (IT) certificates.
This follows the NYSC’s recent policy requiring proof of IT participation before advancing to Higher National Diploma (HND) programs.
Those unable to resolve the issue arrived at the NYSC orientation camp with disheartening stories. This issue predominantly affected polytechnic graduates mobilized for Batch B Stream.
Their failure to provide evidence of the mandatory one-year Industrial Training (IT) as required for camp participation led to their embarrassment.
NYSC Coordinator in Lagos State, Mrs. Yetunde Baderinwa, had informed NAN on August 3 that the policy would be enforced starting with the next orientation camp.
“That is part of the requirement for obtaining an HND Certificate, isn’t it? So, it’s just that certificate.
“That is one of the documents they are required to present at the camp.
“You know, everyone is admitted to the camp, and your documents are scrutinised. But what happens is that that is the requirement”, an NYSC official said.
However, another category of students at the centre of the rejection at the NYSC orientation camp, is graduates of Science Laboratory Technology (SLT) over the non-possession of IT letters.
The board had earlier said SLT graduates from polytechnics must be registered with the National Institute for Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT) before being mobilised for service.
However, the NBTE executive secretary, Idris Bugaje said the agency has never made registration with any professional body as a condition for polytechnic graduation to participate at the NYSC orientation camp.
Bugaje stated this in a letter addressed to NYSC insisted.
According to him, the NBTE remains the country’s sole regulator of polytechnic education.
He explained that NBTE carries out joint accreditation of programmes with the NISLT and other professional bodies.
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“The NYSC should have sought clearance from the NBTE as regulators of the polytechnic sector before taking this decision.
Bugaje asked the NYSC to revoke the decision as a condition for mobilising HND graduates to enable them be part of the process at the orientation camp.
No matter how it eventually turns out the stigma of polytechnic Graduates at the NYSC orientation camp may deepened the long-standing discrimination that had trailed them.
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