The Provost of Harvarde College of Science and Management Studies, Obada, Abeokuta, Dr Oluwatosin Adebayo, has faulted the call for the extension of Nigeria Education Loan Fund to students of private institutions in the country.
Dr Adebayo argued that parents who send their children to private institutions in the country are not often poor and therefore, the need for education loans does not arise.
He explained that rather than agitating for the extension of NELFUND to students of private institutions, the federal government should allow the private institutions to benefit from the Tertiary Education Fund for their infrastructural development.
Dr Adebayo has equally hailed the federal government for giving approval for polytechnic to run National Diploma in Law saying that it’s a big boost for the polytechnic education in the country.
The Provost disclosed this during media parley and tour of the facilities of the school held on Wednesday.
Dr Adebayo disclosed that “I won’t support those calling for the extension of NELFUND to students of private institutions because the poor people won’t send their children to where they are paying as much as N6m, especially these private universities.These are well to do parents.
“However, the government can allow the private institutions to also, like their government-owned counterparts to begin to enjoy TetFund to develop their infrastructure.
“I will also advise that due to the alleged corruption involved in the disbursement of the students’ loan, the federal government should pay directly to each benefitting student once the institution has confirmed the authenticity of such students.”
The Provost said that the approval given to polytechnic to run ND in law is a welcome development as it will allow many people who just wanted to acquire legal knowledge for basic personal development to study law.
He stated that, “Some people just want to study law not because they want to practice, and I think this approval as given by the National Board of Technical Education will help many people to realise their ambition and develop themselves. It is also a boost to polytechnic education, and not only the university can run some courses.”
Adebayo said that NBTE has already given approval to three polytechnics, including Kwara Polytechnic, to start running ND in Law, while his college is also waiting for its approval from the regulatory board.
Speaking on the crisis that rocked the institution two years ago as regarding running unapproved nursing and law programmes, Adebayo said that the crisis was instigated by some bad elements but that the institution has put the storm behind it.
He said that though the college had since stopped running of these two courses but it has equally re-applied for them and that he was quite sure that very soon everything will be straightened out.
Adebayo said the institution remains committed to complying with the regulatory board and that all the courses being run at the college were all accredited by the NBTE.
He listed those courses to include Accountancy, Economic and Management, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Business Administration, Crime Management, Public Administration, Banking and Finance among others.
The Provost said that the college has not only continue to invest in its human resources but have also done a lot in terms of infrastructural development with provision of other teaching aids to ensure that its students get only the very best.
Adebayo sought for the support of the media to continually ensure that the educational institutions perform their roles in providing qualitative manpower for the country
