In a move poised to redefine the landscape of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), key stakeholders have advocated for a transformative shift from Higher National Diploma (HND) to Bachelor of Technology (BTech).
They reiterated the call at a one-day national dialogue on ‘The Future of HND in the Nigerian Educational Landscape’ Organised by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in Abuja on Tuesday.
The stakeholders passionately urged the Federal Government to endorse a critical bill aimed at eradicating the longstanding dichotomy between a traditional bachelor’s degree and the HND credential.
In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Prof. Idris Bugaje said the dialogue was apt as it would foster an opportunity to address pressing issues that had persisted for decades.
“Despite the pivotal role it plays, the HND qualification, earned after five years of rigorous study and internship, continues to face unwarranted discrimination within the Nigerian public service.
“Even in the face of concerted efforts, including proposed legislation and appeals from students and staff unions, the discrimination against HND holders persists.
“Earlier this year, the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) highlighted a 22-year-old issue regarding HND Pharmacy Technology, which was effectively resolved by the Honorable Minister of State for Education. This success catalyzes addressing similar challenges in other programs and exploring best practices from other nations like Ghana and South Africa,” he said.
Speaking, the State Minister of Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu commended NBTE for taking the bull by the horns by bringing to national consciousness, the need to embrace the global movement for skills acquisition by HND holders.
He expressed hope that the dialogue would come up with reasons that would not only change the age-long belief in the so-called superiority of other qualifications over HND.
He said it would also show that Nigeria, more than ever before needed HND holders for national development.
Speaking in the same vein, the President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, Philip Ogunsipe said the discrimination was a function of societal acceptance of HND.
He said for the problems to be solved, the discrimination should be taken care of in the bill before being assented into law.
He urged the NBTE to strengthen its supervisory role saying that infrastructure in some polytechnics was in an awful state and needed urgent attention.
“Once the bill is assented to and the discrimination in the HND programme is resolved and finally passed into law, we will not have any challenge with this age-long problem,” he added.
The call for removing the dichotomy was a collective vision for a more inclusive and dynamic educational framework, that empowers aspiring professionals in the technical realm with equitable opportunities for advancement and recognition on par with their counterparts in conventional academic disciplines.
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