Dr. Taofeek Abdul-hameed, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede Ogbomoso, in Oyo State, has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider replacing the Higher National Diploma (HND) with a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) to address educational disparities and benefit indigent students nationwide.
Abdul-Hameed, speaking on behalf of a league of Rectors, during a live radio programme in Ibadan recently, emphasised the need to eliminate the dichotomy between Polytechnic and University education, asserting that both students and lecturers at Polytechnics are equally competent.
He argued that technical skills and entrepreneurship play a crucial role in a nation’s economic development, citing China and the United Arab Emirates as examples.
Highlighting the Polytechnics’ emphasis on practical skills and entrepreneurship, the don stressed the scarcity of white-collar jobs, advocating for equipping students with practical skills for self-employment after graduation.
“The way out is for the president to assent to the bill and cancel the HND to B.Tech programme, or else the disparity will continue. We hope that President Bola Tinubu signs the bill soon since the last administration failed to do so,” Abdul-Hameed remarked.
Commending the Federal Government for the approved Student Loan initiative, the Rector emphasised the importance of making education accessible to indigent students.
He suggested low tuition fees and interest-free loans, asserting that skill acquisition should be an integral part of education to enable students to repay loans through acquired skills.
“As long as students receive loans from their institutions, they should be equipped with skill acquisitions so that they can pay back after 2 years or graduation. I want to believe that 2 years are sufficient for students, and if not, the government can consider renewing or extending the loan period,” Abdul-Hameed concluded.
