The House of Representatives has passed a bill establishing a Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics (STEAM) Polytechnic, Tombia in Rivers State into law.
The bill makes the Polytechnic, the pioneer model of education that would equip students with technical solutions to life’s challenges.
STEAM is an acronym for Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics.
Sponsor of the bill, Farah Dagogo representing Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said, the Polytechnic will be situated in Tombia, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Prior to its passage, the House Committee on Tertiary Education and Services had on February 22, 2022, submitted its Committee report.
At the Committee of the whole, penultimate Wednesday, March 30th, 2022, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, the House thoroughly considered, made amendments where necessary and adopted the over 80 clauses report of the House Committee.
The Third Reading was unanimously passed by the House when it was put up for a vote by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.
Dagogo had during the debate on the general principles pointed out that the imperatives of STEAM education could not be overestimated because it equips students with competencies that will enable them overcome personal challenges, pursue careers in technical fields such as software engineering or artificial intelligence, find creative solutions to difficult problems, and understand how the world works.
“Mr. Speaker and my distinguished colleagues, the idea of STEAM brings together five major disciplines that create inclusive interconnectivity in the learning environment and this encourages active participation and collaboration of all in problem-solving.
He said the Polytechnic will offer creative related courses that will make the graduates specialist in various fields, adding that the Institution will promote technical and vocational education.
“Indeed, all of us here are aware of the fact that polytechnic education plays a vital role in the human resource development of a country by creating skilled manpower, enhancing industrial productivity and improving the quality of life of our people. A ride through the Bill clearly elucidates these imperatives, especially from the objectives” he explained.
