The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has expressed displeasure with the recently released scheme of service for Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate holders in government service.
ASUP claims the new scheme undermines polytechnic education and perpetuates long-standing disparities and discrimination against its graduates in comparison to those from universities.
The Federal Government, through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), recently issued a white paper titled “Scheme of Service for Polytechnics.” This document, signed by Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, was sent to ASUP via NBTE.
According to ASUP, the document contains numerous discrepancies and contentious issues.
As a key stakeholder in polytechnic education, the union is unhappy with these issues and demands the suspension of its implementation.
In a statement released over the weekend, ASUP National President Shammah Kpanja condemned the new document, stating that it severely undermines Nigeria’s polytechnic education system.
Kpanja argued that it promotes discrimination against HND holders and disrupts established career structures and progression guidelines in the sector.
“This development marks a period of mourning for Nigeria’s polytechnic system,” Kpanja stated. “After a challenging seven-year review process driven by our union’s agitations, our polytechnics are now burdened with contradictions that exacerbate the identity crisis in the subsector.”
The union was not surprised by the policy, noting that the Head of Civil Service has historically shown little regard for polytechnic education and its graduates.
ASUP criticized the office for its lack of understanding of the needs of a functional tertiary education system that supports technical and technological education.
“We are also disappointed in NBTE’s role in this matter,” Kpanja continued. “Instead of carefully studying the document, NBTE chose to celebrate it, despite its potential to cause confusion, deepen disparities, accelerate brain drain, reduce student enrollment, and detach our polytechnics from the global tertiary education community.”
ASUP sees the new policy as an attempt to undermine the union’s efforts to align career structures in polytechnics with global standards and fears it may incite discord among staff trade unions in the sector.
The union urges NBTE to exercise restraint in implementing the contentious provisions of the document until they are aligned with existing laws and standards in tertiary education.
“This is an unfortunate development,” Kpanja concluded. “We strongly advise NBTE to halt the implementation of the various contentious provisions until they are properly aligned with prevailing laws and standards in tertiary education.”
