The Supervising Minister of Education,
Nyesom Wike, has said the dichotomy between Higher National Diploma
(HND) and university degree holders will be resolved soon.
The minister said President Goodluck
Jonathan has set up a committee, headed by the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, to address
the controversy.
Addressing chairmen of the Governing
Councils of Federal Polytechnics and Federal Colleges of Education in
Kaduna during a special retreat, Wike said the SGF and members of the
committee met, last week, with the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics
(ASUP) to resolve the dichotomy.
He said other demands had also been resolved.
According to him, the release of the
White Paper on visitation panels to Federal Polytechnics and Federal
Colleges of Education is being concluded at the Office of the SGF.
A statement yesterday by Simeon
Nwakaudu, the Special Assistant (Media) to the minister, said Wike urged
the chairmen of the governing councils to deploy their requisite skills
to resolve the lingering strike of the polytechnics.
The minister advised the striking unions to reciprocate Dr Jonathan’s good gesture by resuming academic activities.
He said: “Permit me to call on our
lecturers to call off their protracted strike to enable academic
activities begin in the polytechnics and colleges of education. Let us
show understanding with the government and the challenges before it and
call off the strike.
All along the HND holders have been relegated to the background by the Federal Govt. It is ridiculous that somebody will spend 5 years in the Polytechnic only to come out to be pegged to a certain grade level irrespective of how much productive he is and not minding whether his first degree counterpart is performing or not. This is why degree certificate is being bought by part time students. They pay their way through by giving money to the lecturers who pass them for money. This is because of degree mania of the Federal govt. Nobody is against degrees but what the Govts. should have done is to allow both parties to reach their climax without any hindrance. This will help to make for technological and technical developments in the country.
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