Polytechnic Students Seek TETFund Support For Digital Classrooms

The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has called on the federal government and key education stakeholders to include the EDON Digital Classroom Initiative in intervention programmes for polytechnics and colleges of technology across Nigeria.

Addressing a press conference, NAPS President, Eshiofune Paul Oghayan, said the demand had become necessary as Nigeria’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector must embrace technology, artificial intelligence and digital learning systems to remain globally competitive.

The student body urged the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Council of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology to prioritise the initiative under future intervention programmes.

According to Oghayan, many Nigerian polytechnics still rely on outdated classroom systems, conventional chalkboards and limited laboratory facilities, a situation he said weakens practical learning and innovation.

“Polytechnic students are among the most practical-oriented students in Nigeria. Our education is centred on engineering, innovation, vocational training, technology, applied sciences, entrepreneurship and industrial development,” he said.

“Unfortunately, many of our institutions are still operating with outdated classroom systems that cannot effectively compete with modern global educational standards.”

He explained that the EDON Digital Classroom Initiative, which includes 98-inch interactive boards, 3D animation simulation software and artificial intelligence-powered teaching tools, would significantly improve classroom learning, technical simulations and student engagement.

“The global economy is rapidly moving toward artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, digital manufacturing, smart engineering systems, virtual simulations and Industry 4.0 technologies. Polytechnic education must therefore evolve in order to remain relevant,” he stated.

Oghayan said the deployment of AI-powered learning systems would help students conduct virtual practical simulations, improve digital literacy and gain exposure to globally accepted technologies.

He argued that TETFund intervention remained the most sustainable means of implementing the initiative nationwide, noting that many polytechnics lacked the financial capacity to independently undertake large-scale digital classroom transformation projects.

According to him, adopting the initiative would ensure equal access to digital learning across regions, standardise smart classroom systems and strengthen Nigeria’s technical and vocational education agenda.

He also described EDON as an indigenous Nigerian technology solution that deserves government support.

“Supporting it means supporting Nigerian innovation, Nigerian talents, Nigerian developers and Nigeria’s digital economy,” he added.

The student body commended institutions where the initiative has reportedly been introduced, particularly colleges of education, noting that the project had improved classroom effectiveness and student engagement.

NAPS also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to support the integration of the initiative into national education intervention frameworks in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The association called for immediate consideration of the project under future TETFund intervention programmes, collaboration among relevant stakeholders for nationwide implementation and stronger support for AI-powered digital learning systems in polytechnics.

“The future of Nigerian polytechnic education cannot be built on obsolete systems. Polytechnic students deserve smart classrooms. Polytechnic students deserve AI-powered learning,” Oghayan said.

المصدر: Leadership (Nigeria)