By; AUWAL AHMED IBRAHIM GORONYO
Many things can go wrong while we see them as right, and the most dangerous of all, is when things go wrong in the sector of education.
For truth, when you find any degree programme in the Nigerian polytechnics, it is an affiliated programme for the benefit of the university system as it is accredited and managed by NUC, this is where things went wrong because universities seized everything even the Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) and Professional Diploma in Education (PDE). What is the essence of colleges of Education and polytechnics in Nigeria?
When I was a student in the university, I wondered why universities offer diploma programmes. Though I know, it is another means of internally generated revenue for the institutions, but the truth about the programmes is that they are not viable as that of the polytechnics, because many work places don’t accept the certificates, but polytechnics do.
For a reason NUC denounced the HND top-up programme proposed by NBTE when there are some schools managed by NUC that do more harm than good to get money. For money, there are many universities in Nigeria that reduced their programmes of four years to three years and NUC is alive in Nigeria. Testament Business Academy with the following address: 2, Olorunwa Close, Off Karimu Laka Street, Egbeda, Lagos Nigeria is one of them. With many centres of learning in Nigeria, universities offer certificates in education, diploma programmes, professional diplomas in education, National Certificate of Education (NCE) and Professional Diploma in Education (PDE).
Professional programmes in Nigerian universities are money ventures. As a victim, I obtained a Diploma in Education for the purpose of becoming a member of the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), but I couldn’t have it from the TRCN for reasons of invalidity, I didn’t relent, I went for Professional Diploma in Education from Al-Nahar Academy, Unguwar Rimi, Kaduna affiliated to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria but the certificate was rejected by the TRCN again, for unprofessional reasons. I felt like I was duped, while many of such programmes are ongoing.
But as Nigerians, the government allows it. Until just recently when something happened between National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) happened on top-up degree programme. It amazes me much for NUC to even condemn the top-up programme, which has been a modern educational system in the developed world. NUC has forgotten to talk about the problems and the malady that characterize the formation of degree programmes in some Nigerian universities.
Despite the tasks and the longer duration of academic system in the polytechnics, NUC challenged the HND top-up to degree, which however, is acceptable in the developed nations. Diploma in the polytechnic plus the industrial training after the programme is three years and HND amount to five years in the universities and such programmes in universities are for four years. This is why when HND holders seek admission outside the country, they are given direct masters to study.
The Nigerian university system is downplaying the fortunes of polytechnic students and does not recognize the Higher National Diploma. Universities and some working institutions have no regards for the HND. This is why only Direct Entry of level two is allowed even with HND certificate, but the story is different outside the country.
It seems there is misplacement of priority in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. Skill is domicile in the polytechnics, while theories at the universities, but these two go on collusion, because universities in Nigeria want to take everything even in work places. In the developed world, skill is more viable than management.
Apprentices earn more than managers. University graduates are made managers and executive officers that breed concept of leadership, while polytechnic graduates are the labourers with the concept of doing perfect skill work. This is why at the beginning, polytechnics don’t allow HND holders to be head of departments and rectors of polytechnics. Also, only university graduates were employed as lecturers, but this was before the universities become jack of all trades; a reason that churned out things upside-down.
The Federal Ministry of Education has stopped universities from running diploma programmes and yet, they didn’t heed to that. If things will go right, Nigeria will be on a path to greatness by toeing the path of developed nations.
This means, it is not a fault for universities to run diploma programmes, but the programmes should be solely managed by NBTE as degree programmes are managed by NUC, while HND top-up to degree is lawful and accepted internationally. On this, NUC should embrace best practices across the world and stop pulling Nigeria backwards, when the world is changing in anything.
This is how professionalism would be embraced in Nigeria’s education. Meanwhile, dichotomy between HND and degree should be removed to be on the side of developed nations for Nigeria’s greatness.
Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim, Goronyo is a lecturer of Department of Mass Communication, Kaduna Polytechnic and can be reached via auwalahmed@kadunapolytechnic.edu.ng
