The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has said that more than 30,000 Nigerian Higher National Diploma (HND) holders have applied for its newly launched top-up programme.
Prof. Idris Bugaje, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, shared this information while discussing the program, which enables HND holders to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in their chosen field.
Bugaje explained that the NBTE doesn’t have the authority to award degrees but can assist HND holders by facilitating programs with foreign universities.
They have introduced a credit mapping system to aid learning. He noted that the software used for credit mapping compares the curriculum of foreign universities with that of HND programs to identify the differences.
The NBTE is in discussions with several foreign universities from countries such as Malaysia, Russia, and India to provide these programs. They aim to collaborate with 15-20 universities gradually, offering more opportunities for students.
Bugaje revealed that the number of applicants has rapidly increased, with over 30,000 applicants within a short period.
He expressed confidence that this number could reach 50,000 applicants soon.
Some of these applicants include HND holders who hold PhDs and are seeking to earn a BSc to eliminate educational discrepancies.
To make the program accessible, HND holders are required to pay only 10% of the entire tuition fees for the one-year top-up program. Bugaje addressed concerns about local universities losing students, stating that the program would foster healthy competition.
When questioned about the preference for foreign universities over local ones, Bugaje cited prejudice against HND holders within the local university system.
He mentioned that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had not supported their program despite their efforts to communicate and share curriculum information.
Bugaje called on the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, to take a strong stance against the educational dichotomy and expressed hope that the polytechnic Act would be revised soon to address this issue.
He emphasized that the polytechnic system complements universities and has the potential to offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in technology for its graduates.