FG Inaugurates Committee To Bridge HND/First Degree Dichotomy
BEVERLY HILLS, CA, May 06, (THEWILL) â€' The Federal Government has inaugurated the committee saddled with the responsibility of bridging the dichotomy between holders of Higher National Diploma, HND, and First degree.
The committee was inaugurated on Tuesday by the Supervising Minister of Education, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, a release from the Minister's office said Tuesday.
Inaugurating the committee, Supervising Minister of Education said it was in line with the final process of resolving one of the key demands of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, who have been on strike.
Tagged the Technical Review Committee on the contents and curriculum of HND, the inter-ministerial committee has three terms of reference and three weeks to submit its report.
The terms of reference include; (a) review the curriculum for HND graduates (b) introduction of a bridging course that will pave the way for the recognition of HND to reach the Highest Grade Level in the public service and (c) design a programme to enable the Polytechnics award B-Tech degree which is equivalent to degree.
The committee which has the permanent secretary of Federal Ministry of Education as chairman has members drawn from the Ministry of Labour, office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, office of the Head of Civil service of the Federation, National Board for Technical Education and National Universities Commission.
Other members are drawn from the National Commission for Colleges of Education, Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association and the President of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics.
The Minister urged members to work hard within stipulated time to resolve the challenge posed by the dichotomy.
In his response, chairman of the committee and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr MacJohn Nwaobiala assured the Minister that the review will be completed in three weeks.