Federal govt. Scraps HND set new rules for polytechnics
Nigerian Government has scrapped Award of HND Certificates by Polytechnics. The decision was reached at the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday where the
approval of a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s tertiary education system was made.
In effect, the award of HND will be limited to only the students currently admitted for the programmes.
Also, all the programmes currently being run by polytechnics, which are not technology-based, and which are about 70 per cent, will be
scrapped. Under the new rule, the polytechnics will now become campuses of the proximate universities with the Vice Chancellors of those universities appointing provosts for the polytechnics, subject
to the ratification of the Universities Councils.
The polytechnics will now be limited to award of National Diploma (ND) while those desirous of further education will be awarded the Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) by the
proximate university.
To kick-start the new policy, the nation’s two most prominent polytechnics – Yaba College of
Technology and Kaduna Polytechnic – will henceforth be known as City University of Technology, Yaba and City University of Technology, Kaduna.
And to give legal teeth to these approvals, the FEC approved the submission of two Executive
bills to the National Assembly for enactment.With education being on the concurrent list, the states may wish to consolidate their tertiary institutions. But if they do not wish to follow the federal example, their programmes will continue
to be regulated by the relevant agencies of the
Federal Ministry of Education.
The first bill will concretise the setting up of the
two city universities while the second will
approve the preparation and consolidation of all
federal polytechnics and colleges of education
as campuses of proximate universities.
The Ministry of Justice will do the preparation
and submission of the two bills to the National
Assembly.
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, told
journalists after the weekly meeting of the
council that under the reform measures, his
ministry would, however, continue to license
private polytechnics and colleges of education
for the award of qualification at ND and National
Certificate in Education (NCE) levels.
He said, “There will be no more award of HND.
“After we have exhausted the current students
under the programme, there will be no more
award of HND. This means that there will be no
fresh admission for HND programmes. And in
addition, any programme that is not technical
will be out of the polytechnics.
“About 70 per cent of polytechnic graduates are
in the non-technical courses. It is going to be a
rigorous implementation programme.”
A ministerial committee to ensure the smooth
implementation of all that is required for the
take-off of the reform initiatives is to begin
work immediately.
Adamu said, “The HND certificate will remain a
legal tender in Nigeria and holders of such
certificate will continue to be recognised as the
equivalent of first degree holders without
discriminatory remunerations and limit to
progression in the work place.
“The NCE certificate will be retained as the
minimum teaching qualification at the basic level
of education. Any higher qualifications by these
private or state-owned polytechnics will be only
affiliation with a university. So, HND is no
longer in existence, but existing HND will be
respected and considered legal tender.”
Source: Daily post
approval of a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s tertiary education system was made.
In effect, the award of HND will be limited to only the students currently admitted for the programmes.
Also, all the programmes currently being run by polytechnics, which are not technology-based, and which are about 70 per cent, will be
scrapped. Under the new rule, the polytechnics will now become campuses of the proximate universities with the Vice Chancellors of those universities appointing provosts for the polytechnics, subject
to the ratification of the Universities Councils.
The polytechnics will now be limited to award of National Diploma (ND) while those desirous of further education will be awarded the Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) by the
proximate university.
To kick-start the new policy, the nation’s two most prominent polytechnics – Yaba College of
Technology and Kaduna Polytechnic – will henceforth be known as City University of Technology, Yaba and City University of Technology, Kaduna.
And to give legal teeth to these approvals, the FEC approved the submission of two Executive
bills to the National Assembly for enactment.With education being on the concurrent list, the states may wish to consolidate their tertiary institutions. But if they do not wish to follow the federal example, their programmes will continue
to be regulated by the relevant agencies of the
Federal Ministry of Education.
The first bill will concretise the setting up of the
two city universities while the second will
approve the preparation and consolidation of all
federal polytechnics and colleges of education
as campuses of proximate universities.
The Ministry of Justice will do the preparation
and submission of the two bills to the National
Assembly.
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, told
journalists after the weekly meeting of the
council that under the reform measures, his
ministry would, however, continue to license
private polytechnics and colleges of education
for the award of qualification at ND and National
Certificate in Education (NCE) levels.
He said, “There will be no more award of HND.
“After we have exhausted the current students
under the programme, there will be no more
award of HND. This means that there will be no
fresh admission for HND programmes. And in
addition, any programme that is not technical
will be out of the polytechnics.
“About 70 per cent of polytechnic graduates are
in the non-technical courses. It is going to be a
rigorous implementation programme.”
A ministerial committee to ensure the smooth
implementation of all that is required for the
take-off of the reform initiatives is to begin
work immediately.
Adamu said, “The HND certificate will remain a
legal tender in Nigeria and holders of such
certificate will continue to be recognised as the
equivalent of first degree holders without
discriminatory remunerations and limit to
progression in the work place.
“The NCE certificate will be retained as the
minimum teaching qualification at the basic level
of education. Any higher qualifications by these
private or state-owned polytechnics will be only
affiliation with a university. So, HND is no
longer in existence, but existing HND will be
respected and considered legal tender.”
Source: Daily post
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