The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has introduced online programs for Higher National Diploma (HND) holders to earn Bachelor’s Degree certificates in just one year. In previous attempts, the National Universities Commission (NUC) did not approve a two-year Master of Technology for HND holders in some Polytechnics.
HND holders often had to go through a one-year Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) before being eligible for Master’s Programs in Universities, which came with a drawback: those pursuing Ph.D. degrees and looking to move to a Nigerian University were still required to produce their first degree, despite holding Doctorates.
To address this issue, NBTE has created a progression pathway for HND holders to transition smoothly. Additionally, the Board has established an HND admission portal for Polytechnics, ensuring that only accredited programs are visible, and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will have access to know admitted candidates for mobilization.
“To end this unwarranted prejudice, NBTE has now created this progression pathway for HND holders.”
The Board also highlighted mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as a challenge facing HND holders.
“NBTE has now created a HND admission portal for use by all Polytechnics. Only accredited Programmes shall be visible on the portal and NYSC shall have viewing rights to know admitted candidates to be mobilised.
“This will hopefully bring an end to illegal HND admissions of unaccredited Programmes and at the same time ensure carrying capacities are adhered to for quality assurance,” the statement added.
The Board has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to sign the Bill removing the HND-BSc Dichotomy, which was passed by the 9th National Assembly. This move aims to end discrimination against polytechnic graduates in the public service.
Earlier this year, the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) urged the former President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, to eliminate the distinction between Higher National Diploma and Bachelor of Science holders. The Senate had already passed a bill in 2021 to abolish the HND-University degree dichotomy.
NAPS commended the Senate for passing the Bill but emphasized that the President’s assent was crucial to making it a law. The student body even threatened to shut down polytechnics if the HND/BSc dichotomy bill was not signed within the next 14 days.
The discrepancy between the two degrees remains a point of contention, and there’s a call for equal treatment and recognition for HND holders compared to their BSc counterparts.
So, should the HND degree be considered inferior to the BSc degree?
