Excitement as the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has launched an online top-up program that entails how to convert HND to BSc in Nigeria.
The Board made the announcement on Monday, August 14th, of a scheme that offers Higher National Diploma (HND) holders the opportunity to upgrade their certifications to a Bachelor’s Degree.
The announcement was made official by the Head of the Media Unit of NBTE, Mrs Fatima Abubakar, at a Press conference in Abuja following several outcries of marginalisation and discrimination of HND holders by companies and other insttutions.
The statement in detail
Her statement reads “Previous endeavours of persuading the National Universities Commission to give the green light for a two-year Master of Technology for HND holders in some of our polytechnics unfortunately did not materialise,”
She further mentioned the difficulties that many HND holders often encounter – resulting in the need to enrol in a one-year Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) prior to securing a position in the Master’s Programme at universities.
“To redress this unfounded bias, NBTE has now inaugurated this advanced pathway for HND holders.”
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The Postgraduate Diploma scheme however often pose a challenge to its holders should they intend to transit to a Nigerian University for a PhD degree. Even they are in possession of other required credentials, they are still asked to tender their first degree.
Another usual challenge encountered by HND graduates is the issue of mobilisation for national service (NYSC). Before now, several HND graduates have been sidelined for the NYSC programme owing to the weight of the degree they hold.
Though many of the victims of this sidelining are those who enroll themselves in HND programmes that are not accredited by relevant government agencies. The PGD aims to curb this problem and provide a pathway of equality or at least an equivalence of the BSc.
She responded to this challenge saying “NBTE has pioneered a dedicated HND admission portal that all polytechnics can utilise. This portal will exclusively showcase accredited programmes. Furthermore, the NYSC will be granted oversight to identify admitted candidates fit for mobilisation.”
This PGD programme is geared towards curbing illegal HND admissions into unverified programmes. Furthermore, it will ensure compliance with set guidleines, thereby championing quality of the HND degree.
How to convert HND to BSc
- Logon to the website of the NBTE via https://topup.nbte.gov.ng
- Click on APPLY and proceed to the registration page
- Provide all required details, email, HND matriculation number, course, institution, full name, matriculation and graduation dates.
- Proceed to verify email address and continue with the registration.
