Nigerians on Monday commended the Federal Government for setting up a committee to resolve the Higher National Diploma (HND) and Degree holders’ dichotomy.
The Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, on April 24 at a special retreat for chairmen of Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics and Federal Colleges of Education in Kaduna, announced the establishment of the committee.
Wike added that the committee was being headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim.
Reacting to the development in Abuja, some parents and polytechnic students told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the steps taken by the government to resolve the disparity were commendable.
Mr Akin Shongule, a parent, said that the harmonisation was long overdue.
Shongule said from the beginning, the training of HND graduates was meant to complement the degree holders in the area of technical studies.
“That is the more reason why the Federal Government should remove the dichotomy and recognise both the B.Sc and the HND holders as same.
“They should be accorded the same recognition and it will go a long way in bringing peace and confidence to the system.
“More so, you will find out that people no longer want to go to polytechnics because of these differences,’’ he said.
He lauded the government’s commitment to resolve the differences between the two certificates permanently.
Another parent, Mr John Bassey, said the establishment of the committee was a right step in the right direction.
Bassey recalled that the former Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, was and among other officers who had set up similar committees to address the disparity.
“But the reports on the outcome of the committees were never made known to Nigerians.
“We hope that since this committee will be headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and with the Supervising Minister of Education involved, there will be hope for students and other Nigerians with polytechnic certificates,’’ he said.
He urged the committee members to be knowledgeable on the issues involved, saying Nigerians hoped that they would do a thorough work on the assignment.
A student, Miss Philomena Udeze, from Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra, said that government’s action was encouraging.
Udeze said students in polytechnics in the country had lost hope of anything good in the education system.
“It is as if government does not care about us; we have being on strike for the past seven months and to add to this suffering, even with our coming out with the HND certificates, we are still going to be rated low.
“This is very frustrating and I hope and pray that government will expedite action in implementing Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) agreement and the report of the committee,’’ she said.
Mr Abdulwahab Oyekanmi, a student of Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger, commended the government for the action.
Oyekanmi also called on the government to resolve other major issues affecting the polytechnic system in the country. [NAN]
Nice one bt government shuld recognise both Hnd n Bsc as same.
I pray the committee has people with hnd certificates or else there will stil be sentiment.. I went to school for 5yrs to study the practical aspect of a course, u went to school for four yrs to study the theoritical aspect of the same course with the sAme course outline and course code then the person with lesser year is called a graduate and am not. how can Nigeria ever be in peace with all these disparities, hatred And wickedness. they can be administratorS while HND is executive but end in the same level in office but let the differences only be in nomenclature. how can HND Stop in the same level with a WAEC holder. This country has lots of ills.
nice one may god help the commite to resove the issue
Beautiful one,bt fg ar nt reliable so ao can we rely on such pple only God can hear our cry nd put an end to it
friends, let’s optimistically minded. even though d FG is a specialist in playing pranks with d polytechnic sector and had also recorded success over d years in cajoling d credulous personnel in poly system into believing their mendacious approach to salvage situations,
friends, let’s be optimistically minded. Even though d FG is a specialist in playing pranks with d polytechnic sector and had also recorded success over d years in cajoling d credulous personnel in poly system into believing their mendacious approach to salvaging situations like this, this time around , let’s anticipate +ve outcome .
It is really a bold step in the right direction. Every one in this country knows that what is expected from this is to make these qualifications equal in all ramifications, except in their nomenclature which is just the difference and does not mean superiority in any manner. Much thanks to F.G, we’re looking forward to get the much needed result that will settle this chronic problem in our education system.
In every developing country like Nigeria, technical education should be well supported and encouraged. To put technical education ( H. N. D) below B.sc is a pure discouragem. Theory cannot solve the problem of graduates unemployment, let’s be frank about this and our problem will begin to disappear. Thanks to FG.
Until that aspect of the law that defines Polytechnic education as a middle-level manpower provider in Nigeria is repealed this discrimination will continue,i have to go to the University after my Poly education not because i’m inferior in any way but for this Nigerian rubbish.
I prayed nd I hope the federal govt wil make it work out bicos am also nd HND holder.if truly the appointees committee dat re hangling dis case will really settle down nd luk in2 it I think there is a way forward.B.sc HND let it be 1 nd 1 voice.