EDUCATION: Discrimination Between HND and Bsc Holders

It is no longer news that over the years many Nigerians, especially those in the corridors of power, have given priority to issues that are not irrelevant and appears not to have any value to the development of this country. While many countries of the world have continued to plan and reel out best strategies on how to be at the fore front in terms of technology our country Nigeria is still much on ground in its quest to ruin technical education. Definitely, this is occasioned by the continued dichotomy between holders of degree and Higher National Diploma (HND).

Nigerians celebrate certificate and if we are to go by what is obtainable in other developed nations, then the issue of disparity should put aside and if a graduate is seeking for employment the interview should be judge on the basis of the wealth of experience the individual possess and not the title he/she carries.

It is also interesting to note that in public parastatals this issue is still prevalent and the gap has not been bridged. One would think the Federal and State Government would treat its staff better than a private employers, but the reverse is the case as HND holders would never progress beyond grade level 14 not as a result of incompetence but due to the type of school they attended

The argument is that degree holders are trained to be thinkers and managers while HND holders are trained to work with their hands. I think this is not correct because what stops the HND holder from being adapt in thinking and strategy? Polytechnic graduands are infact trained to be both managers and practical oriented personnel's.

There is no disparity. What we have are idle minds, minds that are not well equipped, minds that think that the brandishing of certificate is what determines; there is no disparity. The Nigerian Law and Educational Policy is very clear about it. Those who think about disparity are those who think that the eyes must perform the same function as the noses or the fore limbs must perform the same function as the hind limbs. It can never be so. But think of the entire system as a human body, then you know that none is superior and none is inferior. So, the idea of thinking about the superiority or inferiority of a B.Sc and HND is something that derived from a negative mind and a mind that is not well informed.

The ongoing discrimination against polytechnic graduates bespeaks double standards for nation that is desperate to reposition itself technologically and structurally to meet with the demands of the 21st century.

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.