The lawmakers argued that it would be wrong for holders of the HND certificates to continue to seek equality and parity with BSc holders when both programmes attract different entry requirements and different duration of learning.
The lawmakers used the occasion of the debate on a bill to abolish and prohibit dichotomy and discrimination between first degrees and the Higher National Diploma, HND, holders in the same profession / field to state their views on the issue.
Contributing to the bill, which was sponsored by Senator Ayo Akinyelure (Ondo Central), Senator Sola Adeyeye (Osun Central), informed the senate that the idea of the introduction of the diploma programme had its origin in the UK in the 19th century when the programme was established for returnees soldiers from the World War to create middle level manpower in the UK.
He said that country subsequently abolished the programme in the 1980s when it became apparent that it was no longer useful for the economy and subsequently converted all the shools that offered the programme to degree awarding institutions.
According to the lawmaker, even in the US, which is credited as the best industrialised nation of the world, the country does not run any diploma programme. He stated that going by the fact that the entry requirement for diploma programmes is compromised and the fact also that graduates from such institutions cannot compete effectively with graduates from the universities, there is no need seeking parity with the two certificate holders.
Also contributing to the debate, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu decried the fact that Polytechnics veer into all manners of courses under the sun that has little or nothing to do with technology, including languages, public administration, secretarial studies, etc. While advising that the Polytechnics should be turned into degree awarding institutions, Ekweremadu said that technical schools should be established in the major state capitals to train the required technicians in the country.
Senator Chris Ngige (Anambra South) blamed the technology regulatory institutions in the country for failing in their responsibilities, which led to the abdication of the core educational mandates of the Polytechnics, resulting in the Polytechnics awarding certificates in such areas as crockery, public administration, languages, amongst others.
Noting that the discrimination between the diploma awarding institutions and degree awarding ones is in-built, the lawmaker said that, “we should conserve the energy and resources of this chamber and not allow the bill to go through second reading.”
Senator Sunny Ogbuoji (Ebonyi South), criticised the bill,saying it was raised on sentimental grounds. He described the dichotomy as a structural one that must be addressed from the beginning and handled administratively. He stated that as long as there is certificate discrimination among the two, people will not want to attend the Polytechnics.
In his closing remarks, Senate President, David Mark, noted the different points made on both sides of the divide and agreed that the entry points for universities and Polytechnics are different. He said it’s not about the products, but the individuals that matter, as all institutions produce quacks and good graduates, stressing that, “the curriculum is where the problem is and not the nomenclature.”
He also stated that what the bill is seeking to achieve may not work, however, an arrangement can be made where Polytechnics begin to award degrees. He also cast doubt on the possibility of the Senate legislating on the issue, as the Upper House cannot compel private institutions not to discriminate in their emplacements, adding that nobody is going back to the Polytechnics from the University, but rather, vice versa.
He accordingly urged the Senate Committee on Education to hold public hearing on the bill where according to him; more ideas on way forward would be gotten. The committee was given four weeks to submit its report from the public hearing.
Source: National Mirror
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