The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has introduced a Higher National Diploma (HND) to bachelor’s degree top-up programme aimed at enhancing the career and academic progression of HND holders, according to Prof. Idris Bugaje, the executive secretary of the board.
Bugaje highlighted the importance of this initiative in alleviating the challenges faced by HND holders in the country.
The top-up programme announced on August 14, allows HND holders to convert their certificates into bachelor’s degrees through a one-year programme.
Bugaje noted that HND holders had faced obstacles for many years adding that efforts to eliminate the disparities between HND and bachelor’s degrees have not succeeded.
He stressed the need for HND holders to progress academically and pursue advanced degrees like master’s and PhD.
Bugaje explained that while HND holders in countries like Portugal and South Africa could pursue master’s degrees, Nigerian HND holders had faced limitations.
To address this, the NBTE proposed a two-year master’s degree programme for HND holders, to be conducted in polytechnics.
However, this proposal encountered challenges and was not approved by the National Universities Commission.
As an alternative route for HND holders, the top-up programme offers the opportunity to obtain a B. Sc. in addition to their HND and subsequently enrol in a one-year master’s program and pursue a PhD.
The programme involves a credit mapping process that matches the content of accredited HND programme in Nigeria with the corresponding university content abroad.
Bugaje emphasized that the programme’s goal was to ensure that HND holders progressed and did not stagnate in their careers.
The initiative includes partnerships with recognized and accredited foreign universities in Europe, Asia, and North America.
Bugaje expressed optimism that the success of this initiative could encourage Nigerian universities to participate as well.
The programme aims to provide quality education to participants at a lower cost, approximately 10% of what they would have paid for full-time enrolment.
Bugaje hoped that the programme would change the negative perceptions of HND holders and contribute to the development of Nigeria by addressing the biases against them in the education system.
