Students with low scores in the Unified Tertiary Institutions Matriculation (UTME) are usually at a dilemma on whether to opt for a polytechnic or a college of education. In 2021 UTME, many candidates score low marks. This means that they have to opt for a polytechnic or college of education. Let me show you reasons why you should opt for a polytechnic.
Polytechnics award National Diploma that are run for just two years. That means that within two years, the candidate would have bagged a certificate that will make him employable. This means that the student will constitute financial burden on his parents for only two years after which he should be able to fend for himself. It is quite possible for the child to get employed in his place of industrial training. The good news in this regard is that an individual employed with the National Diploma is usually in the cadre of senior staff.
Another advantage of opting for the polytechnic is that two options are opened for the candidate after the National Diploma program. He may choose to pursue further education in a university by opting for Direct Entry (DE) admission into a first degree program. He may also choose to return to the polytechnic for Higher National Diploma (HND) which is equivalent to the first degree.
One more advantage of opting for a polytechnic is that it affords the student practical training in his chosen field. This will make it easier for the child to be self-employed after graduation. During the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), the student is afforded practical training in a related industry. This increases the chances of getting him employed in the technical cadre of any organization.
The polytechnic is a good starting point for candidates whose scores in the UTME are not high enough to qualify them for admission into the university.