The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) says that, effective August 2024, there will be no more physical accreditation or other quality assurance activities in the institutions under its purview.

The board disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Sunday by the Head of Media Unit, Fatima Abubakar.

Ms Abubakar said the board had fully transitioned to a digital platform for all quality assurance processes, aligning with the federal government’s digital-driven policies.

She added that this was also in line with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

According to her, the digitalization policy has recorded success, with a substantial increase in institutions and stakeholders engaging with the digital system, now totaling 489.

She said the board had also completed digital assessments and documentation processes for 17 institutions across the six geopolitical zones, with approvals granted accordingly.

“Digital monitoring has been introduced to ensure strict compliance with established standards.

“The NBTE’s digitalization drive, led by the Executive Secretary, Idris Bugaje, aims to deliver more efficient, effective, and transparent quality assurance processes, ensuring cost-effectiveness and integrity,” she said.

Ms Abubakar added that the board had also unveiled a technology-driven quality assurance process for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions.

According to her, this approach leverages technology in all quality assurance activities, reduces personnel deployment, and minimises physical contact.

“This transition has led to a significant increase in digital activities on the platform and has been largely successful.

“Some of the successes recorded so far by the digitalization policy of the Board include increased engagement, the completion of digital assessments, and digital monitoring, ”she said.

She encouraged all polytechnics, other technical institutions, and relevant stakeholders under its regulatory purview to embrace these technology-driven digitalization processes.

Ms Abubakar said this would lead to a more efficient, effective, and transparent quality assurance exercise that ensures cost-effectiveness and integrity.

(NAN)