ASUP Calls for Reforms as Polytechnic Enrolment Continues to Drop

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s polytechnic education sector have expressed concern over what they see as ongoing discriminatory admission policies and the continued marginalisation of polytechnics.

For the 2026 admission cycle, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) fixed the minimum admission benchmark for universities at 150, while polytechnics and colleges of education were assigned a lower benchmark of 100.

According to the stakeholders, this disparity is discouraging prospective students from choosing polytechnics, weakening the supply of skilled technical manpower and hampering national industrial development.

The concerns were raised during the maiden International Conference of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti Chapter, which was held virtually.

The conference attracted academics, administrators, union leaders, alumni and industry experts.

In a communiqué issued after the event, and signed by the Chairman of the Conference Organising Committee, Dr Peter Ajewole, and the Secretary, Dr Ige Ayeni, participants argued that the gap in admission benchmarks between universities and polytechnics continues to drive students away from institutions established to provide technical and vocational skills essential for the country’s growth.

They further observed that longstanding negative perceptions and discriminatory treatment of polytechnic education have played a major role in the steady decline in enrolment across the sector.