The disparity between Higher National Diploma (HND) and the university first degrees (BSC) may soon be a thing of the past.
According to the report on Nigerian Public Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, submitted to the federal government by the Committee on NEEDS assessment it was proposed that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National Universities Commission (NUC) should develop standards for the award of Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) by the nation’s polytechnics.
The committee also advised that the curriculum of polytechnics should be regularly reviewed to address changes in industry and the demand in society.
Mrs Hindatu Abdullahi, Chairperson of the committee stated, “The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) should ensure that all colleges of education running degree programmes should have not less than 60 per cent Ph.D holders of the total academic staff strength for each of the degree courses; and provision of Centres for Educational Technology, CET, with all the requisite facilities”.
She equally stated that the suggestions on the report will enable the federal government to make informed decision on repositioning our higher institutions in line with the government’s transformation agenda and global best practices.
