News: Polytechnics to be merged with Universities; HND set to be scrapped.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has reportedly approved the scrapping of the award of the Higher National Diploma (HND) by polytechnics in Nigeria. This is part of the comprehensive reform of the tertiary education sector being done by the present administration.

According to Financial Times, the FG has now restricted the award to only the students currently on admission in various polytechnics.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Adamu Adamu has disclosed that this move is part of the comprehensive reform of the tertiary education sector by the present administration. This is following the FG’s decision to scrap programmes currently being run by the polytechnics, which are not technology-based.

Adamu disclosed that polytechnics will now become campuses of the proximate universities with the Vice Chancellors of those universities appointing provosts for the polytechnics, subject to the ratification of the Universities’ Councils.

The minister also added that this new arrangement will mean that polytechnics will only award the National Diploma (ND), while students interested in furthering their education will be awarded the Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) by the proximate university.

He stated that the two top polytechnics, Yaba College of Technology and Kaduna Polytechnic will now be named City University of Technology, Yaba and City University of Technology, Kaduna respectively.

The FEC, to confirm this decision, has approved the submission of the two Executive bills to the National Assembly for enactment into law.