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.
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