NAPS want end to HND/BSc dichotomy

National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has appealed to the National Assembly and all concerned government parastatals involved in ongoing process aimed at enacting a law to back abolishment of HND/BS.C dichotomy to expedite action on the matter.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin at the weekend, the NAPS national president, Comrade Adeyeye Olugbenga, in his address, titled, ‘‘Advocacy For The Promotion of Technical and Vocational Education in Nigeria’’, said that performance of HND graduates in the country had been proved and attested to by academics and employers.

The students, who said that there was no basis to support dichotomy against HND certificate, added that polytechnic education was necessary for nation’s economics self-reliance and development.

The NAPS also called on state governments in Nigeria to replicate the International Vocational Centre Ajase –Ipo in Kwara state as a means to diversify Nigeria economy and ensure quick recovery from economic recession.

Comrade Adeyeye said that the acquisition of vocational skills was necessary if Nigeria must actually diversify her economy.

He said members of the association haven visited the Ajase-ipo vocational centre in Kwara state were convinced that such centres when replicated across the states would end problem of unemployment in‘‘ terms of self-reliance, advancement in creativity and technological development’.

‘‘NAPS being an umbrella that comprises of polytechnic, monotechnic, colleges of technology and technical institutions, and having intensified advocacy for the development of Technical and Vocational Education in Nigeria, aside the campaign for the abolition of HND/B.SC dichotomy, became attracted by the historic feat recently achieved by Kwara State Government for the creation of International Vocational, Training and Entrepreneurship College (IVTEC), Ajase – ipo.

‘‘While commending the government of Kwara state and congratulating the entire people of the state for the outstanding initiatives, we use this medium to encourage our fellow youths to embrace and explore the multi – faceted opportunities”, he said.