JUMADAL THANI 19 1430 A.H.
WEDNESDAY JUNE, 17 2009
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Minister wants equality for HND/degree holders
Dr Sam Egwu, the minister of education, on Monday called on the stakeholders in the education sector to address the friction generated by the disparity between HND and first degree holders.
Egwu made the call at the Stakeholders’ Forum on: “Strategies for Implementation of Government Policy on Parity between Higher National Diploma (HND) and First Degree Qualifications” in Abuja.
The minister was represented by Dr Jamila Shu’ara, Director, Tertiary Education.
``Federal government directive has been issued on the matter to the effect that all encumbrances to the career progression of HND holders and all other forms of discrimination should be removed.
``This was contained in the white paper, issued on the report of the Presidential Committee on the Consolidation of Emoluments in the public sector in 2007,” he said.
Egwu also challenged the forum to work on the proposal that would award Bachelor of Technology degrees in polytechnics, stressing that the two issues were addressed in the four-point agenda of the ministry.
In his remarks, Mr Musa Abdullah, Chairman, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), said that th disparity had existed for a long time and had caused stagnation for many researchers.
``So long as polytechnics exist side by side with universities, there is every need to harmonise their qualifications for efficiency.
``Some HND programmes go deeper in both practical and theory and their curriculum is very rich,” Abdullahi said.
The meeting was attended by some 100 people.
