By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
RELIEF may have finally come the way of holders of the Higher National Diploma (HND) as the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has unveiled one-year online programmes for conversion to Bachelor’s degree.
The “online Top-Up” programmes, according to NBTE, is with foreign accredited universities.
The Board’s Head of Media, Fatima Abubakar, said attempts in the past to get the National Universities Commission (NUC) to approve a two-year Master of Technology for HND holders in some Polytechnics failed.
“Many times HND Holders are forced to go for a one-year Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) before they could be admitted to the Master’s Programme in universities.
“The disadvantage of the PGD is that holders, who continue to do Ph.D. and wish to migrate to a Nigerian university, will always be queried to produce their first degree, even when they have Doctorals.
“To end this unwarranted prejudice, NBTE has now created this progression pathway for HND holders,” the statement read.
The Board also highlighted mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as a challenge facing HND holders.
“NBTE has now created a HND admission portal for use by all Polytechnics. Only accredited Programmes shall be visible on the portal and NYSC shall have viewing rights to know admitted candidates to be mobilised.
“This will hopefully bring an end to illegal HND admissions of unaccredited Programmes and at the same time ensure carrying capacities are adhered to for quality assurance,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the board has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to sign the Bill removing the HND-BSc Dichotomy in the public service as passed by the 9th National Assembly, to end the discrimination against graduates of the polytechnic system.
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