Today, leaders of polytechnics and technical education institutions across Nigeria will convene to discuss a transformative proposal: upgrading the Higher National Diploma (HND) to a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degree.
In a communiqué from Lawal Hafiz, the Director of Human Resources at the National Board of Technical Education, the assembly of Rectors and Provosts is also expected to reinvigorate efforts urging the Federal Government to endorse a pivotal bill. This legislation aims to dissolve the longstanding educational and professional divide between holders of Bachelor’s degrees and HNDs.
The bill, championed by Senator Ayo Akinyelure, has successfully navigated through the third reading in the Senate. It proposes an end to the prejudicial treatment of polytechnic graduates compared to their university-educated peers, particularly in matters of employment and career advancement.
Ibrahim Shekarau, the Chair of the Joint Committee and a senator representing Kano Central, emphasized the bill’s significance, stating that:
“The enactment of the bill to abolish and prohibit discrimination between First Degrees and Higher National Diploma for the purpose of employment in Nigeria will no doubt freeholders of HND from stagnation and ensure balanced treatment with their counterparts from other higher tertiary institutions in Nigeria.”
The NBTE’s letter outlines the agenda for the national dialogue,
“I write to invite you to a one-day national dialogue on the future of Higher National Diploma programme in the Nigerian Educational Landscape. The objective of the dialogue is to look at issues surrounding the continued discrimination of the holders of the Higher National Diploma certificates and fashion out ways of addressing the age-long problem.
“It is hoped that the national dialogue would look at the proposal to replace the HND programme with Bachelors of Technology (B.Tech); and or to renew the call on Mr President to assent to the bill passed by the National Assembly for an ‘Act to Abolish and Prohibit Dichotomy and Discrimination between First degree and Higher National Diploma in the same Profession/Field for the Purpose of Employment and for Related Matters’ as a panacea to the problem.” it partly read.
