In a move that will definitely boast Nigeria’s educational system and even out the long-standing disparity between Bachelor’s and Higher National Diploma (HND) qualifications in Nigeria. The House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at amending the Federal Polytechnics Act. This amendment would allow polytechnics to confer Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degrees instead of HNDs while also raising the qualification requirements for appointing Rectors. has taken a bold step toward resolving
Bill Sponsors and Objectives
The bill is spearheaded by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Fuad Laguda, Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education. If enacted, it will not only resolve the ongoing BSc/HND debate but also enhance academic standards for polytechnic leadership.
Laguda described the Federal Polytechnics Act as a crucial legal framework governing the establishment and operation of polytechnics in Nigeria. He noted that the Act had previously been amended in 2019 to extend the retirement age of polytechnic staff and standardize the tenure of Rectors. The current amendment, he explained, seeks to modernize the Act in line with global best practices.
Key Provisions of the Amendment
The proposed bill includes several notable changes:
Expansion of the Governing Council (Clause 2): The amendment seeks to increase the membership of polytechnic governing councils by including representatives from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) to strengthen industry-academic collaboration.
Higher Qualification Standards for Rectors (Clause 3): The bill proposes raising the academic requirements for appointing Rectors in federal polytechnics, ensuring that only highly qualified candidates assume leadership roles.
Introduction of B.Tech Degrees (Clause 4): The Academic Board of each polytechnic would be empowered to confer Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degrees, replacing HNDs.
Preserving OND Programs: While the amendment seeks to phase out HNDs, it maintains the issuance of Ordinary National Diplomas (ONDs) to cater to lower-level manpower needs.
Speaker’s Perspective
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, the bill’s primary sponsor, emphasized that the initiative stems from the National Board for Technical Education’s broader effort to eliminate the BSc/HND distinction. He highlighted that upgrading polytechnics to award B.Tech degrees would align Nigeria’s educational system with international standards and improve the employability of graduates.
Conclusion
If passed into law, this amendment would mark a significant shift in Nigeria’s education system, finally addressing the long-debated BSc/HND disparity. By modernizing polytechnic education and enhancing leadership standards, the bill has the potential to bridge the gap between university and polytechnic graduates, ensuring equal recognition and opportunities in the job market.
