The executive secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Idris Bugaje, has reiterated the need for polytechnics to offer bachelor’s degrees, arguing that the shift would help eliminate long-standing discrimination against holders of Higher National Diplomas (HND).
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed a bill through its second reading, seeking to empower polytechnics to award bachelor’s degrees.
In an interview , Bugaje criticized the perception that university degrees are superior to HNDs, describing it as a “Nigerian mentality” that limits career progression for polytechnic graduates.
He highlighted the disparity in career advancement, noting that HND holders in public service are often unable to rise beyond grade level 14, unlike university graduates who can reach directorship roles despite having comparable qualifications.
“At the moment, an HND holder in public service cannot go beyond grade level 14, whereas a university graduate can rise to become a director. There is no real practical reason for this,” Bugaje said.
To bridge this gap, the NBTE is advocating for the gradual phase-out of HND programs, replacing them with bachelor of technology degrees that would place equal emphasis on theoretical knowledge, character development, and hands-on skills.
Bugaje pointed to models in countries like Ghana and South Africa, where polytechnics already offer both HNDs and bachelor’s degrees, giving students the flexibility to choose.
“This will be a degree different from a university degree. In universities, you give degrees based on character and learning. In polytechnics, we shall give degrees based on character, learning, and skills,” Bugaje explained.
He recalled his experience during a sabbatical in South Africa, where students could opt for either qualification, and suggested that adopting a similar system in Nigeria would create a clearer career path for polytechnic graduates, enabling them to pursue postgraduate studies and rise to top leadership positions.
(THE CABLE)
