If the Higher National Diploma (HND) is not recognised, there will be problems in providing the technical skills required to build the nation
PCC Federal Commissioner representing Ondo State, Kehinde Oni, stated this during a town hall/public hearing organised by the commission on Thursday in Akure, also called for the upgrade of polytechnics.
The programme had the theme “Town Hall/Public Hearing On Systemic and Proactive Investigation into Disparity In Placement Of HND And BSC Holders In Civil Service”.
Oni said the upgrade and promotion of polytechnics was to close the gap between HND and bachelor’s degree holders and to solve future problems of the country.
According to him, it is imperative to revise public service rules to ensure parity between HND and BSC holders in career progression and remuneration.
“Though some people are calling for the scrapping of HND, I think is wrong and it’s not a good advice.
“Our polytechnics need to be upgraded and emphasise more on building skills like advanced vocational study.
“Campaigns highlighting the value of technical and vocational education must be intensified to reframe public perceptions, he said.
He, therefore, called on stakeholders for collective responsibility to ensure that the educational system did not create barriers, but build bridges.
“We must work together to create a society where qualifications are assessed based on competence, skills and the value they bring to the workplace, not societal prejudice or systemic bias,” Oni said.
The PCC and stakeholders also called for the promotion of technical education to reframe the public’s perception of HND and bachelor’s degree disparity in civil service across the country.
