The Rector, Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, Prof. Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri, has advocated the necessity for polytechnics in Nigeria to award Bachelor of Expertise levels to switch the present Increased Nationwide Diploma (HND).
Prof. Ufuophu-Biri, who made the decision throughout a colloquium organised by the Delta State Polytechnic, famous that the HND holder spends two years on the Nationwide Diploma (ND), does one-year industrial attachment, and returns to do the HND for 2 years, totaling 5 years, as towards 4 years of learning the same course on the college degree.
In accordance with him, the ordinary-level entry necessities for ND, HND, and first diploma are the identical, simply because the diploma curricula and people of the polytechnic are comparable.
“The polytechnics can retain their names as polytechnics, nonetheless, the ND must be the fundamental requirement for admission into the polytechnic diploma programmes,” he acknowledged.
Ufuophu-Biri, a Mass Communication and Journalism professor, additional identified that polytechnic diploma awards will promote polytechnic and expertise schooling in Nigeria, as extra folks shall be motivated to check in polytechnics, that are locations for expertise and innovation initiatives and growth.
“The dichotomisation of the HND and first diploma, which overtly and covertly tends to inferiorise the HND, is a silent killer of polytechnic schooling in Nigeria, and by wider implication, the stunting of technological progress and growth,” he stated.
Prof. Ufuophu-Biri additional stated that many polytechnics exterior Nigeria award levels, even so far as doctorate levels.
He counseled the excessive normal of polytechnic schooling within the nation, which contributes to graduates of a Nigeria polytechnic being admitted to check for greater levels exterior Nigeria.
“The nomenclature of HND is typically topic to interpretation or verification exterior Nigeria, not like the phrase “diploma” that has common knowledgeability, recognition and acceptability,” he stated.
In accordance with Prof. Ufuophu-Biri, altering the nomenclature to B. Tech will reinforce the urge for expertise and innovation schooling in Nigeria, which is able to quickly transfer Nigeria into the realm of China and India in expertise schooling and development.
