By Austin Ogwuda
THE lingering controversial debate over the disparity between B.Sc and HND holders came to the front burner on Saturday during a virtual interactive session with Civil Servants in commemoration of the 2024 Civil Service Week with the theme, ‘Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Life-long, Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa’.
One Adebayo Hassan on Grade Level 14 had asked about the dichotomy between B.Sc and HND holders in the Service and what the Federal Government was doing to bridge the gap.
Responding, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, (HoS), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan said “The curriculum for HND and B.Sc holders are not the same, hence, HND graduates would have to undergo mandatory one-year training before conversion from Executive to Officers’ cadre”, she insisted.
The one-year mandatory training programme to bridge the gap between Polytechnic awarded Higher National Diplomas and University degrees has been controversial between the National Universities Commission and the National Board for Technical Education.
Recall that a Bill was passed during the Ninth National Assembly in 2021 to end the dichotomy but was not signed into Law by the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
As a result of the logjam, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) which regulates technical and vocational education, had to introduce what it describes as a one-year top-up programme which offers a platform for HND holders to level up towards obtaining a Bachelor’s degree.
*Photo caption: HoS, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan
*Credit Source of Story/Pic to : Punch