Lagos — The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) yesterday began a five-day review/critique workshop for Pure and Applied Sciences programmes at the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma levels in technical education.

Declaring the event open at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in Lagos, Executive Secretary of NBTE, Dr. Nuru Yakubu, said the workshop was designed to produce more than 60 syllabuses in different programmes and options, covering all spheres of learning in the polytechnics and similar technological institutions. He said, "this is in keeping with the board's primary mandate of setting national minimum standards for technological education, training and ensuring compliance with the standards."

He noted that most of the syllabuses had been in use for more than 10 years, whereas the technologies of the profession had undergone several modifications and modernisations. "It became very necessary that the course contents and specifications of these syllabuses be brought in line with modern technologies."

He said the board had already carried out preliminary review for Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering programmes under the UNESCO-Nigeria Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) revitalisation project.

It had also carried out curricular reviews in Animal Science programmes of Agricultural Sciences, which covered about six other programmes.

He implored the board to critically review and upgrade the syllabuses to enable products of technological education compete favourably with their peers from other parts of the world.

"You as experts in various field owe it as a duty to the nation to provide it with an instrument of technological manpower training that is not only modern but will stand the test of time," he said.