T
he age-long disparity between holders of Higher National Diploma, HND, and Bachelors’ Degree
certificates, especially in job offers, official promotions and hierarchy, both in private and public sectors has continued to raise concerns among stakeholders in the country.
For instance, it is common knowledge in the Federal Civil Service to grade first degree holders above HND holders irrespective of professional competency.
HND is an academic certificate offered by polytechnics. Essentially, polytechnic education centres on technical knowledge and training for industrial and technical manpower needs. But a degree such as Bachelor of Science, B.SC is awarded by a university which grooms students in theoretical, administrative and management training.
The HND/ B.SC dichotomy starts from the point of entry into the service, and goes on to promotion and other benefits. Going by the civil service rules, it is rare for holders of HND certificates to rise above Grade Level 14, while the B.SC holders can rise in the ladder up to Grade Level 17, which is the position of a Permanent Secretary. For instance, in the engineering department of a Ministry, a university engineering graduate is called ‘Engineer’ and is qualified to head the department from where he can aspire to the pinnacle of civil service . The polytechnic graduate of similar educational qualification is christened ‘Technical Officer’. Ditto in the banking and other corporate organisations.
Expectedly, HND certificate holders have been crying out, alleging marginalisation and discrimination. For instance, the Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering, NATE, said that the country cannot develop without the removal of the discrimination, just as the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, lent its voice to the controversy by supporting the removal in a correspondence made to the Head of Service of the Federation last year.
We hasten to underscore the point that the official preference for degree to HND certificate has questioned the certificate and productive capability and value of tertiary education in the country. This development is regrettable and unacceptable because it is capable of crippling technical education in the country and by extension, the quest for technological development of Nigeria. Already, it has started creating disenchantment among young Nigerians seeking educational pursuit in technological institutions who largely prefer university education than polytechnic education. The logic is simple: of what use is a certificate when advertised public and private jobs give degree holders higher preference and advantage?
This system can better be described as retrogressive, unfair and counterproductive. A toddling economy like ours that is in desperate need of high number of both technical, scientific and theoretical ideas and policies at different levels cannot grow if it continues to adopt this kind of outmoded policy.
Besides, experience has shown that paper qualification alone does not amount to competence. Our job policy should, instead, lay emphasis on tested ability, trainable qualities and acquired skill. Professional lines should be drawn without discrimination in terms of ranking and condition of service. This is imperative because equal career opportunity and privilege engender industrial harmony, increase commitment, efficiency, productivity, and loyalty of staff.
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