The National Universities Commission (NUC) has recently announced its rejection of a programme initiated by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) that seeks to convert Higher National Diplomas (HND) to university degrees.
In a statement released on Saturday, Chris Maiyaki, the Acting Executive Secretary of the NUC, referred to the proposed one-year top-up degree programme in Nigerian polytechnics as deceptive.
Maiyaki stated, “The existing dichotomy between first degrees and HND has not been abolished. Universities and polytechnics have their distinct and unique programmes, which pose a challenge to such a conversion scheme.”
He further advised the public, as well as relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), to take notice that the NUC is not involved in and, therefore, disassociates itself from the so-called Top-up Scheme concocted by the NBTE.
The statement revealed that the National Universities Commission (NUC) has become aware of an online news report regarding the introduction of a one-year top-up degree programme in Nigerian polytechnics by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). The aim of this programme is to enable holders of Higher National Diplomas (HND) to convert their certificates to a first degree using foreign accredited universities.
The report, credited to Prof Idris Bugaje, the Executive Secretary of the NBTE, and Mrs. Fatima Abubakar, the Head of the Board’s Media Unit, indicates that this action was taken to advocate for the removal of the existing disparity between degree holders and HND graduates in their respective workplaces, while also providing greater opportunities for further studies for the beneficiaries.
Maiyaki emphasized that technical education holds a unique place worldwide, with polytechnics existing alongside universities to produce critical human resources based on their respective mandates and goals.
The statement also clarified that the university degrees awarded by the Nigerian University System or any related institution are not equivalent to the HND awarded by Nigerian polytechnics.
At the post-graduate level, Maiyaki highlighted that applicants with HND seeking admission into any master’s degree programme in Nigerian universities are required to obtain a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) from a recognized university in a relevant field to the intended master’s programme.
As a result, the statement noted that beneficiaries of the NBTE’s Top-Up Programme will be subject to existing admission requirements by Nigerian universities if they wish to further their studies within the Nigerian University System.