NAPS urges Buhari, National Assembly to resolve HND/B.Sc dichotomy

The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to resolve the dichotomy between B.Sc. and HND.

NAPS National Vice President, Damola Olugbode, made the appeal at a news conference in Abuja.

Also joining in the demand was the Coalition of Concerned HND holders (CCHH).

Olugbode said the dichotomy had been the motivation for several industry crises in both public and private sectors.

He expressed concern that nothing had been done about the issue, despite the fact that the bill seeking to stop the dichotomy had passed second reading in the House of Representatives, and appealed to the lawmakers to pass the bill without further delay.

Olugbode said: “We have been grossly marginalised by the Federal Government, especially all the past ministers of education.

“The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) had at various times protested against the treatment of HND graduates in all sectors of the Nigerian labour market.

“Polytechnic education is now being regarded as vocational studies, as witnessed by the several professional bodies that have refused to recognise the HND. This is despite that they had accredited the courses of study at these polytechnics.”