Trainees under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) who underwent training at the Federal Polytechnic Daura in Katsina State, have expressed concerns over the inability of the Federal Ministry of Education to settle their training allowances.
Some of the trainees who spoke to The Punch in Kano on Tuesday, lamented over the prolonged delay in the payment of trainees’ allowances without any official explanation as to what caused the delay.
One of the affected trainees, Abdullahi Mohammad said the silence surrounding the nonpayment of the allowances and the grant as promised by the organisers, had created frustration among the affected trainees, who spent a lot during the training period.
“They promised to give us allowances, a grant and certificate after graduation. But none of these was given to us,” Mohammad said.
According to him, the six months training which was conducted at the Federal Polytechnic, Daura Centre, has become a waste because they could not put into practice the valuable practical skills and knowledge they acquired due to lack of funds.
“If they had given us what they promised us (grants), after the training, our story would have been different by now because we would have gone far by now,” he said.
Another trainee, Aisha Musa, said she spent a lot of money on transport from Malumfashi to Daura during the training period, regretting that the whole effort has now become a waste.
“I spent a lot of money on transportation during the training program and yet there is nothing to show for it,” Musa said.
The affected trainees however called on the Federal Ministry of Education and management of the TVET program to fulfill the promises made to them, noting that many participants committed their time and resources because of those promises.
“We urge the management of Federal polytechnic Daura, Katsina TVET Training Centre to provide a comprehensive update regarding the issues raised to ease tension and improve transparency,” he added.
When contacted, the Coordinator TVET, Federal Polytechnic Daura Centre, Dr. Aziz Fatai, said that the trainees’ complaints have been forwarded to the TVET management.
He assured that the outstanding stipends would soon be paid to the affected trainees while Start up will come after the ongoing assessment of folders is completed and the awarding body visits the centre for certification.
“Payment to students has been processed. Payment is delayed due to efforts by the ministry to harmonise the Biometric attendance activities of centres,” he added.
