NAPS denounces legal challenge to HND Phase-Out

August 15, 2024.

By Adedoja Adesoji

The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has condemned the legal opposition to the discontinuation of the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Pharmaceutical Technology at polytechnics.

At a press briefing in Kaduna, NAPS President Comrade Ridwan Opeyemi Munirudeen criticized individuals pursuing legal action, stating that their personal interests are prioritized over the collective benefit of polytechnic students.

Munirudeen emphasized that the decision to replace the HND program with a National Diploma (ND) in Pharmacy Technician followed extensive consultations with major stakeholders, including the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the Ministry of Education, and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN).

“The ongoing legal dispute does not serve our students’ best interests,” Munirudeen remarked. “We have put in considerable effort to ensure a seamless transition that protects current students while aligning with national standards. Pursuing this issue in court is a deliberate attempt to disrupt our progress.”

NAPS fully endorses the decision to allow current HND students to complete their studies while suspending new admissions into the HND program in Pharmaceutical Technology. Munirudeen urged those involved in the court case to reconsider their position and focus on the future of polytechnic education.

He reiterated the association’s commitment to opposing any attempt to maintain the HND program, expressing NAPS’s support for the NBTE and PCN in implementing the new educational directive. Munirudeen highlighted that NAPS’s main concern is the welfare and advancement of polytechnic students nationwide.

“We support reform, provided it benefits students and improves the quality of polytechnic education,” Munirudeen concluded.

NAPS called for all parties to respect the decisions of regulatory bodies and collaborate to strengthen polytechnic education in Nigeria.