The National Universities Commission, on Saturday, knocked the National Board for Technical Education over the introduction of a “top-up degree” scheme introduced for graduates of Nigerian polytechnics at the level of Higher National Diploma.
The universities’ commission in a statement signed by its acting Executive Secretary, Chris Maiyaki, noted that the move by the NBTE was in clear violation of its mandate.
Earlier, the NBTE had announced a partnership with foreign universities where HND graduates could convert their diplomas to degrees through a one-year conversion course following the dichotomy which had continued to exist between graduates of universities and polytechnics.
The move had received praises from HND graduates across the country.
But the NUC statement read in part, “Even though agitation continues to grow for the abolition of the dichotomy in Nigeria, there is, at the moment, no law that has removed the dichotomy between a university degree and the HND.”
The statement also warned unsuspecting general public and all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to note that the NUC “is not a party to and, indeed, disallows the so-called Top-up Scheme, being concocted by the NBTE.”
The NUC warned the NBTE to focus on its own mandate.
“In the light of the above, the advice of the NUC is that the NBTE should focus on its core mandate and desists from introducing programmes that are outside its jurisdiction, and not supported by any law in Nigeria,” the state further read.
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