NBTE splits Mass Comm program in higher institutions

By Folaranmi Ajayi

The National Board for Technical Education has split mass communication course into three categories as a course of study in higher institutions in the country.

This was disclosed by the the Executive Secretary of the board, Professor Idris Mohammed Bugaje, on Saturday.

He said unlike in the past, mass communication is now split into Journalism and Media Studies, Strategic Communication and Media Studies and then Film and Multimedia Production, adding that a student can specialize in one aspect.

Speaking during the closing of a five-day critique of the new curriculum of the courses by major stakeholders in Kaduna, on Saturday, Bugaje, who was represented by his
Special Assistant, Mallam Ibrahim Bashir Bello, said that the courses would be thought at Higher Diploma Level in all the Technical, Vocational and Colleges of Education Study Centres across the country and urged the various Institutions to sponsor lecturers to update their knowledge on the courses.

A Chief Lecturer at the Mass Communication Department of Abdu Gusau Federal Polytechnic Zamfara State, Mallam Lawal Umar Maradun, commended the NBTE for the development, stating that it has brought some level of relief to the polytechnic lecturers who can now concentrate on a particular area of specialization.

The resource person, Mr. Jide Johnson, explained that the new curriculum has been critiqued by respected professionals and would equip Nigerian journalists on contemporary journalism practices.