By SYLVESTER THOMPSON

The Association of Private Polytechnics in Nigeria (APPN) has commended the Federal Government’s plan to abolish the Higher National Diploma (HND) dichotomy, calling it a landmark policy of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Dr Benjamin Achiatar, APPN President, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday that the reform would boost Nigeria’s technological manpower and drive the economy.

He said, “I am delighted that the President, through the Minister of Education, has factored this into his Renewed Hope Agenda. This reform is going to elevate technical education as well as preserve it”.

Achiatar expressed optimism that the policy would motivate more students to pursue courses in polytechnics.

NAN recalls that the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, had recently announced that polytechnics would be empowered to award degrees following the abolition of the HND dichotomy.

“Most of the middle-level manpower are produced in the polytechnics. Abolishing the dichotomy and converting HND to Bachelor of Technology (BTech) honours would enhance the stature of polytechnics and the lecturers who teach there”.

On regulatory concerns, Achiatar said, “Without prejudice to the NUC status, [NBTE] can exclusively regulate accreditation of polytechnics and still allow them to issue degrees once it becomes a Commission.

“That way it would have the capability of regulating polytechnics and doing accreditation for award of degrees.

“There would be nothing lost at all in what we have been seeing; but they really have to reform the NBTE into a commission, that is basic”.

He explained that the reform comes in two parts, “One, allowing polytechnics to award BTech honours; and two, reforming the NBTE into a commission”.

He disclosed that both have scaled the second reading in the National Assembly. (NAN)