Students’ Perception of Nbte’ Unbundling Policy: a Study of Mass Communication Programme in Select Institution

This study investigates students’ perception of the National Board for Technical Education
(NBTE) unbundling policy, specifically within the Mass Communication program in selected
institutions in Kwara State, Nigeria. The unbundling policy restructures the broad Mass
Communication curriculum into specialized disciplines such as Journalism, Public Relations,
Advertising, and Film Production. The aim is to enhance skill development, align with industry
demands, and improve employability. Using a mixed-method approach, the research
incorporates survey questionnaires and in-depth interviews to assess students' awareness,
understanding, and perceptions of the policy's implications. Findings reveal that students have
moderate to high awareness of the policy, largely influenced by media and institutional
communications. While students acknowledge the potential benefits of specialization for career
readiness and industry alignment, concerns are raised about implementation challenges. These
include resource inadequacies, lack of infrastructure, and insufficiently trained lecturers for
specialized courses. Furthermore, students emphasize the need for clearer communication and
gradual implementation to ensure a smooth transition. The study concludes that while the
unbundling policy is a step toward modernizing technical education, its success depends on
addressing identified challenges through adequate funding, stakeholder engagement, and the
integration of emerging industry trends.
Keywords: NBTE, Unbundling policy, Mass Communication, Curriculum reform, Students’
perception, Employability.