HND not equivalent to degree –Oronsaye

The Higher National Diploma is not equivalent to a university degree, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, said on Sunday.

Answering questions at a forum of the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja, the head of service said, “It is not the same curriculum; that is the truth.”

He said the Federal Ministry of Education was currently working on a scheme to enable HND graduates to spend an additional year to obtain “something that will be equivalent to B.Sc or B.Ed.”

According to him, “Let me also say this to you, that there is a body, the National Council on Establishments, where this thing was tabled.

“And unanimously, all of them said it (HND) cannot be equal (to a university degree); and that is the highest body to take this decision,” he added.

However, the head of service, who said he knew of a White Paper mandating the equation of both qualifications, advised HND holders to “better themselves.”

“I know that the Ministry of Education is already doing something through the NUC.

“The holders of the HND or OND should actually avail themselves of that opportunity to better themselves so that they can aspire to get to grade level 17.

“I am not one of those who will shy away from saying it the way it is,” Oronsaye said.
Source: Punch Newspapers – www.punchng.com

8 COMMENTS

  1. Let us call a spade a spade, even the duration of study between the HND and degree program varies. 2 and 4 years, the curriculum design for the two programs are entirely different. Equating them will certainly be unjust. But they are all equally important. Actually discriminating HND holders is unjustifiable. No meaningfull development without technological advancement.

  2. It is sad when people that suppose to inform rightly misinform. It is also sad when sensitive issues are politicised by the people in authourity. First that need to be understood is that Nigeria don’t have a place for polytechnic education. We should ask ourselves why is it only polytechnic that has problem of being properly graded as well as its graduates being treated academically inferior which they are not? Another thing that needs to be examined is that is Nigeria perspective about polytechnic international? If universities in developed nations could recognise HND especially accepting HND for post graduate Diploma in all courses for them to be able to proceed to Master Degree programme in academic, why is Nigeria university not having this kind of programme for the advancement of the polytechnic products? Unfortunately again, most universities don’t run post graduate Diploma, even if they do, they only allow university graduates with 3rd class and attimes one wonder the quality of a polytechnic graduate with a distinction or upper class in comparison to a university graduate with a 3rd. Oronsaye represents a confused individual as well as a confused system that Nigeria runs. Anyway, I strongly suggest the abolition of polytechnic to save some Nigerians from a ceiling being put on their advancement.

  3. Gbenro said all that needs to be said. It only a pity that confussion isnt just Oronsaye’s problem,ignorance has eaten deep into his system and that is if there is one. ‘cos if he is well read with a university degree then its a shame that all a claimed degree holder could say is what he has said – SHAME! I wouldnt waste time analysing the ways through which on a realistc mode, how a qualified HND graduate equates and most times,more qualifies compare to a Nigerian degree holder. Should I educated him and others like him about the practical and theoretical work an HND graduate is made to learn. Oransanya, listen- an HND graduate has about a year and 3 months work experience in his/her field even before graduation, do u want to compare that experience with a degree’s experience of just 3/6months IT?. Oransanya i wouldnt send words to you but please if you must to correct something make sure you have a solid solution along with it, if not pls sir, keep quiet and just keep embezzling bread as much as you can and dont forget to keep some for your kids ‘cos im pretty sure they can never fit into the labor market without your weak connection.

  4. Call the latest development Orosanye’s recipe for the final exit of the technical cadre from the federal service, I cannot immagine an HND holder already holding an additional Post Graduate Diploma from reputable university having to run another one year programme to secure an equivalent qualification to a first degree.

    The FME and the Federal Civil Service are already aware that most if not all the Technical Cadre Civil servants already have the PGD. Why not accept the respective Post Graduate Diploma to consider these staff for promotion to the directorate level ( these qualifications had been obtained even years before the inception of the controversial Government White Paper.