The federal government has announced plans to abolish the long-standing Higher National Diploma, HND, dichotomy by empowering polytechnics to award degrees, in a major reform aimed at repositioning technical and vocational education as a driver of national development.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in Abuja yesterday while addressing a high-level retreat of council chairmen, commissioners of education, rectors, registrars and bursars.
Describing the move as a landmark policy shift, the minister said it would end decades of discrimination against polytechnic graduates and elevate polytechnics into centres of excellence within Nigeria’s higher education system.
According to him, the reform will place polytechnic education on a stronger footing, while preserving its core strength in hands-on, industry-focused training.
