Jonathan moves to resolve HND/BSc dichotomy

Polytechnic graduates are discriminated against in
private and public employment.
The supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom
Wike, has declared that the issue of dichotomy
between HND and Degree holders will soon be
resolved as President Goodluck Jonathan has set
up a committee headed by the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, SGF, Pius Anyim, to
address the challenge.
Addressing chairmen of Governing Councils of
Federal Polytechnics and Federal Colleges of
Education on Thursday in Kaduna during a Special
retreat, Mr. Wike said that the SGF and members of
the committee met with Academic Staff Union of
Polytechnics, ASUP, last week to resolve the
dichotomy.
HND holders are discriminated against not just by
private employers but also by various level of the
Nigerian government. When employed into
government ministries, fresh HND holders are
recruited to Level 7 while fresh BSc holders are
recruited to Level 8.
The removal of the dichotomy between the two
categories of graduates is among the demands of
the striking polytechnic lecturers, ASUP.
Mr. Wike also claimed that other demands have also
been resolved. He said the issue of the release of
white-paper for visitation panels to Federal
Polytechnics and Federal Colleges of Education is
being concluded at the Office of the SGF.
The Minister called on the chairmen of the
Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics and
Federal Colleges of Education to assist the federal
government by deploying their relevant skills
towards resolving the lingering strike action of the
lecturers.
Mr. Wike urged the striking unions to reciprocate
the gesture of President Jonathan by calling off their
strike and resuming academic work in the interest
of the nation.
“Permit me to call on our lecturers to call-off their
protracted strike to enable academic activities
commence in the Polytechnics and Colleges of
Education. Let us show understanding with
government and the challenges before it and call-
off the strike. We acknowledge the importance of
teacher education and polytechnic education and as
responsible government we will not down-play their
roles in national development and prosperity,” Mr.
Wike said.
In his remark, Chairman of Committee of Chairmen
of Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics,
Ebenezer Babatope, appealed to the striking
lecturers to work towards resuming academic
activities in line with the commitments made by
President Jonathan to further develop Polytechnics
and Colleges of Education.
Polytechnic lecturers, ASUP, have been on strike
since October 2013 while colleges of education
lecturers, COEASU, have been on strike since
December 2013.
The chairman of the National Board for Technical
Education, Laz Ekwueme, called for the
reconciliation of all parties for academic activities to
resume in Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.
Present at the meeting were chairmen of governing
councils of Federal Polytechnics and Colleges of
Education. Also in attendance were Rectors,
Provosts and officials of National Board of Technical
Education, National Commission for Colleges of
Education and Federal Ministry of Education.