“HND holders must complete a mandatory one-year training course.” – Federal government

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, has asked Higher National Diploma holders to undergo a one-year compulsory training before their conversion from cadre to officer status.

According to a statement released on Saturday, Yemi-Esan said this during a virtual interactive session with civil servants in commemoration of Public Service Week 2024 with the theme “Educating an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for increased access to education. Inclusive, lifelong, quality and relevant learning in Africa.

The one-year compulsory training program aimed at bridging the gap between higher national diplomas awarded by polytechnics and university degrees has been the subject of controversy between the National Universities Commission and the National Council of ‘Technical education.

A bill was passed in the Ninth National Assembly in 2021 to end the dichotomy, but was not signed into law by the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Thus, the NBTE, which regulates technical and vocational education, had to introduce what it describes as a one-year top-up program that provides a platform for HND holders to move to the next level towards obtaining a bachelor’s degree.

While responding to a question from one of the officials during the virtual meeting, Yemi-Esan said: “The curriculum for HND and BSc holders was not the same, therefore, graduates of the HND should undergo a one-year compulsory training before moving from university to university. Senior executive to officer cadre.

Source: Punch newspaper

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