The multibillion naira equipment in Delta technical colleges is currently lying idle following under-utilization of the equipment as a result of lack of teachers.

South-South PUNCH gathered that most of the equipment in these colleges are lying idle and in various stages of deterioration

The Modern Technical College, Asaba with state – of – the – art facilities was inaugurated in January 2023, before the former governor Ifeanyi Okowa left office.

Findings revealed that the equipment are not being utilised due to the absence of teachers/instructors, hence parents are threatening to move their children away.

A parent who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said he registered his child for the purpose of acquiring technical skills but it appears that the aim has been defeated.

“It’s no longer technical college, it’s conventional. I registered my child here to enable him get the technical knowledge, so after the school, he can focus on one aspect, in case I couldn’t afford tertiary institution.

“But, it appears that the purpose has been defeated, because as I speak to you now they don’t have teachers in those technical subjects.

“It is only the conventional subjects that they are still teaching them. No practical, but they have enough equipment lying fallow,” the source said

It was gathered that some equipment have started deteriorating while some of them like wires are rotting away and stolen

In Technical College Issele-Uku, it was learnt that due to lack of teachers, some non-teaching staff took it upon themselves to teach the students

“We don’t have permanent teachers for these technical subjects. In fact, some non-teaching staff are the ones teaching like auto mechanical, electrical, woodwork, building and others.

“So, students were no longer interested in it again as it was before. Now we have one candidate in this ongoing exam” sources alleged.

In Ofagba technical college, investigation revealed that the scenario is playing out as lack of teachers is a major challenge.

“We don’t even have enough teachers in the conventional subjects, not alone, in those technical subjects.

“We lack teachers in subjects like English, Maths and others, how much those technical subjects like Woodwork, auto mechanical fashion designing, as I speak, community are trying to engage service of some teachers to assist.

Meanwhile, when Asagba of Asaba, HRM, Asagba Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, paid an unscheduled visit to the Model Technical College, Asaba two weeks ago, he frowned at the underutilization of the college.

While commending the state government for establishing such a massive institution with state- of- the- art facilities in his kingdom, the monarch regretted that not much was known about the College in the public space.

Prof. Azinge, therefore, called on the relevant authorities, especially the Ministry of Technical Education, to sensitize the public on the importance of vocational education as a solution to the high rate of unemployment in the county.

Reacting to the development, the State Commissioner for Technical Education, Mr. Smart Ufoh said that the equipment are fully utilized

“The machines be it fabric, auto mechanical are fully utilized, we do have teachers and instructors and we are collaborating with other people who come to reach the students.

“Most of the desks are being produced in our Technical colleges and supply to other schools. Do we need more hands? Yes, there is need for employment. It is not easy to run technical school because it is capital intensive. Delta State is currently running nine technical colleges” he said. (The PUNCH)