A bill aimed at abolishing the dichotomy and discrimination between Bachelor’s Degree holders and Higher National Diploma (HND) holders has successfully scaled through the second reading in the House of Representatives.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The bill, which seeks to replace the HND qualification with a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) degree, was sponsored by Fuad Laguda, a member representing Lagos State. It was discussed on the floor of the House, with Speaker Tajudeen Abbas highlighting its goal of enabling polytechnic graduates to compete on an equal footing with their university counterparts.
Speaker Abbas emphasized that the bill would address the inequality that has long existed between graduates of polytechnics and universities in Nigeria. He explained that under the proposed amendment, polytechnic graduates would no longer face disadvantages in the job market, as they would hold a degree recognized as equivalent to a university degree. The shift to a Bachelor of Technology qualification, Abbas stated, would help bridge the gap and improve the status of technical education in Nigeria.
The Speaker also noted that polytechnic authorities across the country had called for the abolition of the HND, advocating for the introduction of the Bachelor of Technology degree. This, they believe, would allow polytechnic graduates to compete more effectively with university graduates.
Furthermore, the bill suggests a hybrid model of supervision for polytechnic education. Under this model, the degree component of polytechnic education would be managed by the National Universities Commission (NUC), while the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) would continue overseeing the national diploma programs. This change also proposes that rectors of polytechnics should hold at least a Ph.D. to align with the new academic structure, where degree programs will be offered.
Following a voice vote, the bill was approved by the lawmakers to move forward to the next stage of the legislative process. This move has sparked discussions on the future of technical education and the recognition of polytechnic qualifications in Nigeria’s educational system.
