ASUP President Urges Federal Government to Authorize Polytechnics to Award Degrees
The National President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics(ASUP) Comrade. Anderson Ezeibe, has urged the Federal Government to authorize polytechnics to award their bachelor of technology to end the BSc and Higher National Diploma, HND, dichotomy.
Comr. Ezeibe made the call in Kaduna at an award presentation and farewell ceremony organised by ASUP, Makarfi Chapter to mark the transition of Shehu Idris Collage of Health Sciences and Technology, Makarfi, SICHSTM, into Kaduna State University, KASU.
The SICHSTM was merged with KASU to be awarded degrees by Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i.
He said the measure, if adopted, would also ensure full utilisation of huge number of technical equipment in workshops, laboratories and other facilities in public polytechnics that remained underutilised due to lean students’ population.
The president said that with the transition, SICHST, was no longer a member of ASUP, but of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
In his statement, ”ASUP is currently on advocacy on the award of bachelors of technology by Nigerian polytechnics system.
”HND is no longer as attractive as it used to be to Nigerian youths because of the age-long dichotomy.
“Policy makers have made it a rule that once an individual have an HND, he cannot attain the peak of his/her career, then why are they continuing to force it on people, why don’t they phase it out and replace it bachelors of technology. “
He said the Nigerian polytechnic system have all it takes in terms of infrastructure and human capital to award Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate Degrees in the areas of technology.
In his words, “In Europe, Germany, UK, America and all parts of the world, polytechnics are not limited to middle level manpower.
“In the new polytechnic act, they are empowered to produce higher level manpower without limit, as we speak, many polytechnics are producing degree holders but in affiliation
“They are doing it with their own infrastructure and staff, why can’t they do it in name of another their institution.
“We are on serious advocacy regarding this and we have recently submitted a position paper to the federal government on the need to transit from the award of HND to bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees in technology with the Nigeria polytechnic system.”
“The bill to stop the dichotomy has passed through all the stages of legislation but not accented by the President and the period has passed, which means there is no political will.
“So, if they are not ready to improve HND, they should phase it out and replace it with degrees in technology so as for us to continue to dwell in our own area of competence which is technical education.
”ASUP is faced with many challenges and success stories among which were their ability to change the model of engagement with proprietors of public polytechnics and collages of technology in the country.
“We also engage in a lot of advocacy which resulted to us attracting positivities to the Nigerian polytechnics system.
“Recently, six new centres of excellence have been established in the Nigerian polytechnics system, one in each geo-political zone, they are the first of their kind.
Mr. Ezeibe also spoke about the 15 Billion that was also released for polytechnics system as a result of their struggles, for the revitalisation of infrastructure in Nigeria polytechnics system.
“Currently, we are renegotiating our agreement with the government on new wage structure for our members, and many other developments we are trying to bring to Nigeria polytechnics system.”
Recall that the Nigerian Senate also passed the bill to abolish the discrimination between holders of Higher National Diploma, HND, and Bachelor of science, BSc, from tertiary institutions.
Senate president Ahmad Lawan said the passage of the bill will serve as a motivation to HND holders from polytechnics.
The bill is titled: “A Bill for an Act to Abolish and Prohibit Dichotomy and Discrimination between First Degree and Higher National Diploma in the Same Profession/Field for the Purpose of Employment; and for Related Matters”.
Source: Daily Nigerian
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