FG's Decision To Change Polytechnics To Universities Will Not Augur Well - Stakeholders

The Federal

Government

recently directed

that the award of

the Higher

National Diploma

(HND) by the nation’s polytechnics be abolished.

It equally stated that the polytechnics will

become campuses of the proximate universities

with the Vice Chancellors of those universities

appointing provosts for the polytechnics, subject

to the ratification of the Universities Councils.

If this is implemented now, it means that the

award of HND will only be limited to only the

students currently admitted for the programmes.

Subsequently, polytechnics will be limited to the

award of National Diploma (ND) and any student

who wish to further his or her studies after

obtaining ND award will have to pursue the award

of Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) through the

proximate university.

This directive by the FG has however attracted

mixed reactions.

While some are in support of this development

going by the fact it will help resolve the HND-

B.Sc discrimination, some lecturers and stake

holders are of the opinion that this move will

result in the mass sack of polytechnic lecturers

as many of them may not have the qualifications

to fit into the new system and many not be able

to improve their qualifications immediately due to

constraints of time, age , finance and even

unfavourable structures.

According to the Acting Head, Mass

Communication Department, UNILAG, Dr.

Oluruntola Sunday, the move by Federal Ministry

of Education will not augur well as certain

machineries ought to have been put in place

before declaring the outright scrapping of HND by

polytechnics.

Another senior lecturer, Dr. Tayo Poopola

lamented that the constant change of policies

without getting people’s opinions has been the

bane in the education sector.

" Nigeria, who operate a democratic rule, ought to

set agenda for public discussion before declaring

a new policy. " He stated.