The National Board for Technical Education has announced a program enabling holders of Higher National Diplomas to upgrade their credentials to a Bachelor’s degree online over the course of a year at international authorized universities.
This information was provided by the board in a statement that its Head of Media Unit, Fatima Abubakar, made accessible to journalists in Abuja on Monday.
Abubakar said this was also to facilitate the progression of HND holders to higher degrees.
“Attempts in the past to get the National Universities Commission to approve a two-year Master of Technology for HND holders in some polytechnics did not see the light of the day.
“Many times, HND Holders are forced to go for a one-year Postgraduate Diploma before they could be admitted into the Master’s Program in Universities.
”The disadvantage of the PGD is that holders who continue to do PhD and wish to migrate to a Nigerian University will always be queried to produce their first degree, even when they have doctorates.
”To end this unwarranted prejudice, NBTE has now created this progression pathway for HND holders. This can be accessed at https://topup.nbte.gov.ng,” she said.
Mobilization for the National Youth Service Corps is another issue that many polytechnic HND graduates face, according to Abubakar.
She claims that many people are accepted into non- accredited programs, and after receiving their HNDs, they are not mobilized for the NYSC.
”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.
”Finally, the board wishes to appeal to Mr President to please sign the bill removing the HND-BSc Dichotomy in the public service as passed by the last National Assembly.
”This is to end the unjust and undeserved discrimination against graduates of the polytechnic system,” she said.
She further said that the lack of legal support forced the board to look for methods to improve the situation of HND holders.
According to Abubakar, this is necessary since HND holders actually hold the key to Nigeria’s industrialization and essential skills for constructing the nation’s essential infrastructure.
