THE recent disagreement between the National Universities Commission and the National Board for Technical Education over a ‘top-up’ programme to convert Higher National Diploma obtained in polytechnics, to bachelor’s degree offered by universities, is an absurdity. The salary entry-point disparity between HND and degree holders in the public service provokes accusations of discrimination. The NBTE needs to reinvigorate the importance of the technical education and to engage government to drive the much-needed industrialisation in the country. This will rejuvenate polytechnic education. Polytechnic education was introduced in Nigeria to drive the mechanisation and industrialisation through the training of technical manpower, it must not be erased.

Source: Punch October 26, 2023 16:28 UTC