NBTE Makes Tech Skill Certification Compulsory for Computer Science Students. The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has announced that tech skill certification will now be compulsory for computer science students in Nigerian polytechnics. This means that all computer science students must acquire a tech skill certification from either Microsoft, Cisco, or other tech giants before they can graduate.
The NBTE Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, announced the new policy on September 24, 2023. He said that the policy is aimed at ensuring that computer science graduates have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in the tech industry.
NBTE Makes Tech Skill Certification Compulsory for Computer Science Students
According to Nairametrics, Skills acquisition before graduation is a must, and the curriculum will be modified to incorporate skills and qualifications
- “From this October, we are adding a skill qualification to every curriculum in the NBTE and if you do not acquire the skills qualification you will not graduate.
- ” We are starting with HND computer science, we have unbundled the course into four. Students will now have to go to Cisco, Microsoft, or any of these big players and get a skills certificate on a particular skill.
- “So we call this dual certification and this will create employment for Nigerians and as well provide a market for Nigerian youths.
- “Indians are taking advantage of that, Bangladesh which has the same population as Nigeria has 11,500 youths working in different parts of the world. Morocco exports almost half a million youths to the Middle East.
- “So, we are saying that Nigerians should not be left behind. They must take advantage of the skills and opportunities they have around them,” he said.
The new policy is aimed at ensuring that computer science graduates have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in the tech industry. The NBTE Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, said that the policy is in line with the board’s focus on skills development.
The policy has been welcomed by many stakeholders in the tech industry. They say that the policy will help to improve the quality of computer science graduates and make them more competitive in the global job market.
Overall, the NBTE’s new policy is a positive step towards improving the quality of computer science graduates in Nigeria. However, it is important to address the concerns of stakeholders about the cost and relevance of the certifications.
Potential Benefits of the New Policy
- Improved quality of computer science graduates
- Increased competitiveness of Nigerian computer science graduates in the global job market
- More job opportunities for computer science graduates
- Increased innovation and productivity in the Nigerian tech industry
Potential Challenges of the New Policy
- Cost of acquiring tech skill certifications
- Relevance of tech skill certifications to all jobs in the tech industry
- Access to tech skill certification programs for students in rural areas
Recommendations
- The government should provide financial assistance to students from low-income families to help them pay for the cost of tech skill certifications.
- The NBTE should work with tech companies to develop tech skill certification programs that are relevant to all jobs in the tech industry.
- The NBTE should work with polytechnics to ensure that all students have access to tech skill certification programs, regardless of their location.
The NBTE’s new policy on tech skill certification for computer science students is a positive step towards improving the quality of technical education in Nigeria. However, it is important to address the concerns of stakeholders about the cost and relevance of the certifications. By working together, the government, tech companies, and polytechnics can ensure that all computer science graduates have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in the tech industry.
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