A momentous debate is scheduled to occur today among the Rectors and Provosts of polytechnics and other TVET-awarding institutions. The central focus of the debate is the proposed substitution of the Higher National Diploma (HND) program with the Bachelor of Technology. This initiative seeks to address the enduring issue of discrimination between HND and Bachelors degree holders in the employment sector.
Today’s discussion is a pivotal forum for the members to deliberate on the proposal. Furthermore, the meeting will afford an opportunity for the attendees to advocate for the endorsement of a bill aimed at eradicating the existing dichotomy between Bachelors degree and Higher National Diploma.
The bill, spearheaded by Senator Ayo Akinyelure, has already undergone the crucial third reading on the Senate floor during a plenary session. If enacted, this legislation will put an end to the discrimination faced by polytechnic graduates, ensuring that they receive fair treatment in the professional sphere.
In a statement concerning the bill, the Chairman of the Joint Committee, Ibrahim Shekarau, stressed that the removal of discrimination between First Degrees and Higher National Diploma would free HND holders from stagnation and promote equitable treatment with their counterparts from other higher tertiary institutions.
An official letter from the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) has been dispatched to all Rectors and Provosts across the nation, inviting them to participate in a one-day national dialogue. The primary objective of this discourse is to address the longstanding issue of discrimination against holders of the Higher National Diploma. The dialogue also aims to explore the proposal to replace the HND program with the Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) and to renew the call for the President’s assent to the bill passed by the National Assembly.
It is clear that this dialogue is a critical step towards rectifying the disparity between HND and Bachelors degree holders. The initiative to replace the HND program with the Bachelor of Technology has the potential to revolutionize the educational landscape, providing new opportunities for polytechnic graduates and ending the discrimination that stakeholders in the polytechnics have fought against for so long. The outcome of this debate has the capacity to shape the future of vocational and technical education in Nigeria.