The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has launched two portals for Higher National Diploma (HND) holders who wish to acquire bachelor’s Degree through online Top-Up for one year, with foreign accredited universities.
The Board says this is to facilitate the progression of HND holders to higher degrees.
NBTE has also created HND admission portal for use by all Polytechnic to identify accredited Programs as displayed visible on the portal
These were made known in a statement signed and made available to Voice of Nigeria by the Head, Media Unit of the Board, Mrs. Fatimah Abubakar.
The Board stated further that attempts in the past to get the National Universities Commission (NUC) to approve a two-year Master of Technology degree for HND holders in some Polytechnics failed to see the light of the day.
It also noted that in the past, some HND holders are for forced to undergo one-year Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) before been admitted into the Master’s Program in Universities.
“The disadvantage of the Post Graduate Diploma is that holders of such degrees who continue to do PHD and who wish to migrate to a Nigerian University will always be queried to produce their first degree, even when they have Doctorates”.
NBTE added that it created this progression pathway for HND holders to end what it described as unwarranted prejudice.
The program can be accessed through https//topup.nbte.gov.ng
Challenges
Another challenge facing many Polytechnic HND graduates is mobilizations for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
“Many are admitted into non- accredited programs and after the HND, they are not mobilized for the NYSC”
Removal Of Dichotomy
NBTE however appealed to President Bola Tinubu to sign the bill removing the dichotomy between the Higher National Diploma and Bachelor in Science Degrees in the public service as passed by the last National Assembly and to end what it called unjust and undeserved discrimination against graduates of polytechnic system.
