29
Jan
Jan
POLYTECHNIC OWNERS HAILS FG’S PLAN TO END HND-DEGREE DIVIDE
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Caroline Ameh / 6 days
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- 2 min read
The Association of Private Polytechnics in Nigeria (APPN) has commended the Federal Government’s plan to abolish the Higher National Diploma (HND) dichotomy, describing it as a major milestone in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s education reform agenda. The President of the association, Dr. Benjamin Achiatar, told the media on Wednesday that the policy would significantly strengthen Nigeria’s technological workforce and contribute to economic growth. Achiatar said the reform aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that it would elevate the status of technical and vocational education while encouraging more students to enrol in polytechnics.“I am delighted that President Tinubu, through the Minister of Education, has prioritised this reform. It will not only preserve technical education but also enhance its relevance to national development,” he said.He recalled that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, recently announced plans to empower polytechnics to award degrees following the removal of the HND dichotomy. According to Achiatar, most of Nigeria’s middle-level technical manpower is produced by polytechnics, stressing that converting the HND to a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) honours degree would improve the standing of both institutions and their academic staff. On regulation, the APPN president said the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) could continue to oversee accreditation if it is upgraded into a commission, without undermining the role of the National Universities Commission (NUC). He explained that the reform has two key components: granting polytechnics the authority to award BTech degrees and restructuring the NBTE into a full-fledged commission. Achiatar disclosed that the relevant bills have already passed second reading at the National Assembly, raising hopes that the reform would soon be implemented.