The disparity between degree and
Higher National Diploma, HND holders
in
Nigeria Right from the emergence of
western education in Nigeria, there
has been a lot of controversies generated
regarding the disparity that is
breeding between degree and Higher
national
diploma certificates. This dichotomy
has escalated to a stage that most of the graduates that were trained
in
polytechnics wished to pursue a
degree certificate but for lack of
privilege. Having a concrete and
theoretical view into the backgrounds, it is
pertinent to know the significance of
polytechnic training in the area of
technological development and nation
building. Generally, the polytechnic is
majorly established to equip man powers with the necessary
technological
skills use in nation building. To add
verisimilitude, this particular
disparity is still in existence at
full edge especially in Nigeria labour markets. Most of corporate
organisations have special preference
for university graduates compare to
their polytechnic counterparts with
governmental set ups inclusive. Some
companies will go as far as placing in their adverts in the national dailys
that only university degrees are
allowed, though many private
enterprises
accept HND but a degree certificate
is an added advantage. This dichotomy
is not only restricted to the private
enterprises, the civil service of the
nation owned at the state or
federal government level also
embrace this in their process of recruitment due to
the fact that a new employee
holding a HND certificates starts at
the
position of grade level 7 whereas a
degree holder does so at grade level 8.
Looking at the process of retirement
in the civil service, it is learnt that a
HND holder retires at the grade
level 14 while a university graduate
retires at grade level 16. Is this not a complete devaluation of HND
certificate? Even though there are
many
polytechnics in Nigeria producing
middle level
man power, the level of its development is still at a slower rate.
This particular disparity breeding
regarding degree and HND has
resulted in many
students opting for university
degree which is purely academic and research-based compare to polytechnic
training that entails
practical and
pragmatism. This dichotomy is doing
more harm than good in the area of
economic growth and educational development. For instance, there are
some
cases where a university graduate
of mechanical engineering was unable
to
repair a faulty automobile; this particular episode has obviously
reflected
the theoretical nature of university
training. Examining the issue
critically, polytechnic education is
scientifically and technologically oriented in the sense that proper
scientific training is offered in the
area of engineering technology,
textile development, architectural
technology, automobile system
development and host of others. Even in Nigeria of nowadays, you will
hardly see a situation where parents
wish their wards to attend
polytechnics owing to some of the
aforementioned
facts. Every child wants to become a medical doctor, lawyer, engineer,
nurse and so on, nursing the believe
that all these professions are
trained
in the university. Even the unified
tertiary matriculation examination which serves as the qualifying
examination into the Nigerian
universities,
polytechnics and college of education
experienced mass application into the
universities whereas the slot for admission is limited. Some students
even
prefer staying at home for a long
period of time waiting for university
admission rather than proceeding
towards polytechnic. At the corner of professionalism,
higher percentage of professional
institutions in Nigeria reserves an
enjoyment galore for university
graduate applicants in the course of
their professional trainings such as ICAN whereas HND holders require
some particular exams before being
duly
eligible. In the course of attaining
postgraduate degrees such as
masters degree and doctor of philosophy, a
HND holder is required to procure a
postgraduate diploma of a
recognised university before he is
eligible to
further with his second degree. In the area of education privileges, it
is learnt that most of the
scholarship available in Nigeria are
meant for university undergraduates
and graduates. Even the
international one has preference for degree. For
instance, petroleum trust
development fund (PTDF) is a scheme
that has
executed a wide range of
development projects such as building of
laboratories and complexes in many
universities across Nigeria. In
conclusion, here are some
proffered solutions that may
definitely bridge the gaps resulting from the disparity
Employment into various cadres of
positions in the civil service,
government parastatals, corporate
organisations and private
establishment should not only be based on
certification but also on the
individual
capability and practical experience
through proper interviewing and
scrutinization. Proper orientation and enlightenment
programmes should be given to all
graduates irrespective of their
graduating schools on the need for
self
autonomy and reliance. The federal government should
eradicate the dichotomy by passing
a
legislative act regarding that and
the equivalence of HND with B.tech
of a university. if all these gaps are cleared ,
polytechnic education will be
appealing to
admission seekers and thus divert
their focus on compulsory university
attendance, I hope with this , the country will be propelling towards
an
enviable height. Ali Toyin Abdul is a law
undergraduate of university of Ilorin,
a published
writer, poetic expert and information technologist. He is an associate
member of society of young Nigerian
writers, a columnist with information
Nigeria and a member of union of
campus journalist. You can contact
me at alincokayman@gmail.com,

we nigerians are the architect of our own downfall,if this was realised in the first place by those ppl oppressing hnd holders,i believe Nigeria would have become a well developed country since they is fairness in the system but it seem the is nothing like free and fair in the Nigerian language.the federal Govt keep complaining about the poor educational levels of nigeria yet they don't know the reasons behind it,my brother na so we go face things oh.