BSc vs HND in Nigeria
I got a call from a friend last week asking me to help her niece who just finished NYSC service to get a job in the company where I work.
Of course I was willing to do whatever I could to help so I asked her to forward her CV to me which she did almost immediately.
However when I opened the CV, my heart fell. The lady had a HND degree and my company’s policy was to employ only BSc degree holders.
Bummer!
I felt so bad that I called my friend and demanded why she allowed her niece go to a polytechnic when she was well aware of how they were viewed in the Nigerian society.
She explained that her niece was from an average family (in terms of resources), and since ND program was cheaper and for a shorter duration, she opted for it so she could quickly finish and get a job so she could help her family.
Fortunately, she was able to continue on to complete her HND studies and now she really needed a job.
What a story!
I know that this BSc HND dichotomy has been on for a while and it seems that instead of receding, the discrimination against HND holders seem to be getting even worse.
Even when BSc and HND holders are employed together, the BSC holder would usually earn more than their HND counterpart. Even more shameful is the way the
Banking/Financial institutions treat HND holders – they are only employed as contract staffs and paid less than 50% of what they would have earned as BSc holders.
Little wonder most candidates now rush and lobby for University admission, thereby killing Nigerian’s technical education which the polytechnics mainly offer.
By the way, I can tell you in all honesty that I have seen both strong and weak graduates from both institutions, so it is really a matter of the individual, not the institution.
What is the way forward?
Should this disparity between HND and BSC holders continue?
Shouldn’t HND holders be recognized for their technical prowess in certain courses?
After all, the HND is fully recognised in the UK and have several equivalents in other European countries. What then is all the fuss about it in Nigeria?
Personally, I think that the polytechnics are doing a great job despite all the discrimination against them and if the Government does nothing to stem the increasing inequality, we may have a big problem looming in the future.
Some measures the government could take going forward include:
- Establish a law that equates HND to BSC (at least in certain courses)
- Compel organizations to reduce the salary disparity between BSc and HND holders
- Reduce fees in polytechnics
- Equate cut off marks for both institutions
- Government can put in facilities to upgrade the polytechnics
If the Government cannot change the state of things for whatever reason, then Polytechnic education in Nigeria should be scraped to avoid further frustration of Nigerian HND graduates who now see themselves as second class citizens compared to their BSC counterparts.
My candid advice to the Nigerian HND holder who have suffered (or is still suffering) this discrimination, and to every Nigerian HND holder who has been denied certain positions and promotions just because of their degree is this: do not let any man-made disparity make you feel less than yourself and give up on your ambition.
You have gone through a higher education and you have what it takes, so go for it!
By the way, there is even a dichotomy between federal and state university graduates, but that is a story for another post.
Enough of all these discrimination of certificate, As they were been there before u were born, I don’t think nigerian need all these, I am technical college graduate (TRADE TEST, NTC and FEDERAL CRAFT MAN CERTIFICATE all these earn from technical college) HND holder and also i have city and guilds level 5 which is equlivalent to Bsc, i don’t think there is any differences btw both certificate infact to my own view HND holder are more useful than Bsc holder coz they are technically sound. imagine a person with Bsc in mechanical/automobile engineering that can not even service a car, which is the simplest thing for HND holders in the same field. my advice to federal ministry of labour and interior is they should stop these discrimination of both degree because that is foolishness and stupidity, thank u
HND holder especially in engineering should proceed to Uniport and obtain post HND form leading to B. Eng to avoid this discrimation . to strengthen their academic background and enhance their competency in engineering field. However coy need best candidate poly or uni
am very happy for d 4 council of education for his working on both university nd Nigeria polytechnic.cos polytechnic are more brilliant than university because I don’t know why labour market who jst have d discrimination of Nigeria polytechnic and university they must change h.n.d to b.s.c
I‘m very happy to banned dis variation as well as education qualification more especially dichortomy between HND & Bsc in our great nation nigeria 4 me HND is better than Bsc certicate in my ext school most of the product university lecturer they don‘t know practical aspect they most assaing/plead HND product lecturer concerned practical on the field
Hmm!! Tnx be to Allah 4 making thiz topic of discussion ended, may Allah blessed all the Bsc and HND certificate, to those who are not employed. nd those that are not promoted to their offices.
Thanks to National Council for Establishment for equating HND &B.SC ,therefore promoting healthy competition b/t two rather than degree paper as proclaim by some individuals.Up HND
working as a customer service person in the banking sector proved my worth against the so called Bsc holders who at some instances cannot defend it but still claim they have an edge over you. glory to God as this whole mess has finally ended..let’s see who the cap fits now when we go into the Labour market with our degree and show of talent and worth in our various disciplines…..up poly….HND holder we will soon be addressed as Higher Nigerian Directors were ever we find ourselves.stand up and defend wat you have..
if truly the dichotomy btw HND holders and Bsc holders az come to end. then congratz to HND holders coz you can imagine a HND holder been paid 80k while Bsc holders usually collect 110k and above. I don’t know d different. Moreover! before u can be issue HND cert u should have 5years + service with training and practical of ur own field while Bsc cert usually use 5years including service without any practical or training. All the best!
I thank God Almighty that such a dichotomy has been waved out.my Advice to the Nd holder’s in the house is that if any one of you has not obtain your HND Form please do that immediately. imagine a student of 300lvl banking and finance doesn’t know anything about Taxation while ND 2 Poly student opened his mind to it.An ND holder teaching 300 level student Taxation in university.
thanks God for my life .
In which school?
I’d love to hear more.
Can one enrole for master without going through PGD?
Yes