By Idris Auwal
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has issued a directive mandating that academic staff in polytechnics and other Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions must obtain a Master’s degree within five years of employment or face conversion to non-teaching roles.
This directive was disclosed in a circular dated September 10, 2025, signed by the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Professor Idris Bugaje, and addressed to all rectors and provosts of TVET institutions across Nigeria.
Click to Unmute
Prof. Bugaje expressed concern over the large number of lecturers, including both university degree and Higher National Diploma (HND) holders, who have failed to upgrade their academic qualifications despite being in service for several years.
“Any academic staff who fails to acquire a Master’s degree after five years of employment shall be converted from academic staff to non-teaching staff,” the circular warned.
GrannyMurray School
The new policy takes immediate effect, with NBTE instructing all heads of institutions to strictly enforce compliance.
According to Bugaje, the measure is part of ongoing reforms aimed at improving the quality of teaching and aligning Nigeria’s technical education system with global best practices.
He noted that upgrading the qualifications of academic staff is essential to enhancing both the credibility and the output of TVET institutions.
“This is not about punishment; it is about quality assurance. We want our polytechnics to compete globally. Lecturers must continually improve themselves,” he stated.
NBTE also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting institutions and their staff through the transition and urged proactive steps to help affected lecturers begin postgraduate studies within the stipulated timeframe.
Great! U can only give what u have and can only save a system if u are above it. In a country where secondary school teachers hold Master’s it is almost unbelievable that lecturers in polytechnics would be content to stay put as B.Sc/HND holders. Kudos to Prof Bugaje…
You are right bro. If they can’t afford Masters degree, they will be converted to non academic staff and there by creating space for Masters degree holders who are jobless to step in.
Master’s degrees and PhDs in Nigeria are nothing but bogos titles in recent time, especially in fields of engineering, science, and technology. I am yet to see a good masters degree or PhD holder who has made contributions to knowledge that warrant the honors.
When we have underfunded polytechnics and universities that are I’ll-equipped, these academic titles should be the least problems of the board.
My advice, the board should strictly look into the kind of institutions they approve, their approach to teaching and learning, and the quality of graduates they produce.
Mark Zuckerberg didn’t have a master’s degree before he invented Facebook.
Abi ooooo.
All we crave for and still believe in is the certificate and not what we aim to create so as to add value to the system.
True
Nigeria, always chasing clouts
zainabdanga@gmail.com
So because Zuckerberg invented Facebook before degree so they should allow academics without cert? This is a good move. What you are trying to say can only happen gradually n this is a big step.
Everybody must not be academician. So if you cannot afford being a master in your field, then step aside.