BSC/HND DICHOTOMY - WHICH WAY FORWARD

Engineers Throws out Bill on BSC/HND Disparity

The engineers in the House of Representatives and their friends were the one that threw out a bill, seeking removal of the civil service disparity in the treatment of University Degree holders and Higher National Diploma (HND) holders on 20th of may 2008 for just no reasons.

The bill was innocently sponsored by Honorable Ini Udo from Akwa Ibom State, and seconded by Honorable Ekpo Ekperikpe, also from Akwa Ibom. It was debated by the lawmakers for 30 minutes, and the Engineers have their way.

We asked our source the reason and why do the engineers hate the HND holders? No answer more than the need for middle level man power. The HND is not a middle level manpower! Not only will this affect HND in engineering but kill the moral of other professions who normally give better treatment to those from the polytechnic. The HND holders in building technology enjoy higher status and promotion while HND Civil engineering suffers the middle level waiting game.

The answer to the HND prayer was in the white paper waiting for the legal backing that the engineers kill. The government decision on this issue was put in balance by these singular actions of the engineers in the house as revealed by our own man.
How will HND holders who are frustrated by members of the same family function in the family. It's really not a bad idea to keep the HND away or turn every body to engineer, who will be the technologists? But then if there is no proper placement on those that have had HND for years back what happens to the new and young ones? Is that the reason why the polytechnic must award degrees? I bet you some people have always had this discrimination of a thing against people with B.Tech and HND as in getting jobs in this country. Something positive needs to be done in the engineering family.

At the last AGM of the TECHNICIAN NISET; they were just less than 40 in the meeting, 988 in the NISET register and 194 in COREN register. Majority of them have AMNSE with HND and ready to migrate. The youngest was above 50years of age. The encouragement of TECHNOLOGISTS, TECHNICIAN & Craftsman has to be done urgently by the engineering family of Nigeria. The relevant authorities’ decision on polytechnics graduates who have long finished school, using their certificates or still searching for Jobs across the country must have solution.

The problem of cheap decimator attitudes of those saddled with the responsibilities of our education in the past must stop; this could bring the negative thinking of technical education to an end.
Engineering family is sick if one cadre disappears.

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