The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, has urged the Federal Government to eliminate the Higher National Diploma (HND) program in polytechnics if it is unwilling to address the existing dichotomy between HND and BSc degrees.
During an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, Mr Bugaje highlighted the unfair discrimination faced by HND holders, which often prevents them from reaching senior positions in the public service.
Describing the HND-BSc dichotomy as a relic of colonialism, Prof. Bugaje lamented that Nigeria has yet to overcome this issue.
He stated that the NBTE has written to the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Federal Ministry of Education, appealing for HND holders to be allowed to pursue a two-year Master’s program directly, but their request has not been granted.
“The motivation behind the top-up program was the discrimination endured by HND holders over the years. Despite their equal standing to a first degree, HND holders are unjustly treated and are not permitted to reach the highest echelons of the public service.
“Their progression has been hindered for no fault of their own, simply because they have not obtained a BSc degree.
“So we have been exploring alternatives, and our proposal is to introduce a two-year top-up program that would allow HND holders to attain a BSc degree. This would bring them at par with BSc holders and enable them to compete effectively,” Mr. Bugaje explained.
The Executive Secretary emphasized that a first degree should not be the sole determinant for advancement in academia. He emphasized the need to promote skills development as a crucial aspect of national growth and development.
In searching for the best global practices, the NBTE discovered that countries such as Ghana, South Africa, the European Union, and Asia have adopted successful approaches for integrating HND holders into higher education. Based on these findings, Prof. Bugaje proposed a one-year top-up program for Nigerian HND holders, which would confer a BSc degree in theory and preserve their practical expertise.
Prof. Bugaje also recommended adopting the South African model, where HND holders pursuing academic careers can proceed directly to a one-year Bachelor’s top-up program, bypassing the need for a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) before enrolling in a Master’s degree program.
The Executive Secretary concluded by suggesting that if the federal government does not intend to address the HND-BSc dichotomy, it should consider scrapping the HND program altogether, following the example set by Ghana.
NAN
