Education

NUC disowns NBTE conversion of HND to degree programme

Published

7 months ago

October 14, 2023

National Universities Commission

NUC disowns NBTE conversion of HND to degree programme

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has disowned a programme being floated by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) which aimed at converting Higher National Diploma (HND) to university’s degree.

Acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Chris Maiyaki, in a statement, made available to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, described the purported one year top-up degree programme in Nigerian Polytechnics as not feasible.

Maiyaki, who personally signed the statement, said the existing dichotomy between first degree and HND has not been abolished even as universities and polytechnics have their individual unique programmes which would pose a challenge to such conversion scheme.

The statement reads in full :

“The attention of the National Universities Commission (NUC) has been drawn to the news (online) that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has officially introduced a one year top-up degree programme in Nigerian Polytechnics to enable holders of the Higher National Diploma (HND) to convert their certificates to the first degree with foreign accredited universities.

The online news, which was credited to the Executive Secretary of the NBTE, Prof Idirs Bugaje and the Board’s Head of Media Unit, Mrs. Fatima Abubakar, revealed that the action was in furtherance of the advocacy for the removal of the existing dichotomy between degree holders and HND graduates in their various places of work, and to enhance the beneficiaries’ opportunities for further studies.

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The NUC wishes to inform the Management of the NBTE and the general public that the “Bill for an Act to Abolish and Prohibit Dichotomy and Discrimination between First Degree and Higher National Diploma in the Same Profession/Field for the Purpose of Employment, and for Related Matters”, which was passed by the 9th National Assembly in 2021, is yet to be assented to by Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So, even though agitation continues to grow for the abolition of the dichotomy in Nigeria, there is, at the moment, no law that has removed the dichotomy between a university degree and the HND.

Both the NUC Establishment Law (CAP N81, LFN, 2004) and its Operational Law: Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act, CAP E3 LFN, 2004) vest in the Commission the powers to superintend and regulate university education in Nigeria, lay down minimum academic standards in the nation’s Universities and other degree-awarding Institutions, and accredit their programmes. Thus, the Commission is the only constitutionally empowered regulatory agency for university education in Nigeria.

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Pursuant to the sustained commitment of the NUC to the development of a balanced, well-coordinated and productive University System that guarantees the delivery of quality education relevant to national development, and in the face of global competitiveness, the Commission wishes to state, categorically, that:

The place of technical education, the world over, is unique. Thus, in most higher education systems, Polytechnics co-exist side by side with Universities for the purposes of producing critical human resources, based on their peculiarities and in tandem with the the goals for which they were established, abinitio;

The university degree awarded by the Nigerian University System or any cognate Institution, is not the same as the HND awarded by Polytechnics in Nigeria. In the Nigerian higher education space, the processes, contents and methods required for the acquisition of a university degree are substantially different from those needed for HND programmes;

At the post-graduate level, the requirements for admission into any Master’s degree programme in Nigerian Universities for candidates with HND are, among others, the acquisition of a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) from a recognised University in an area relevant to that for which the Master’s admission is being sought. To this end, it is implicit that beneficiaries of the NBTE’s Top-Up Programme shall be subjected to extant admission requirements by Nigerian Universities, should they desire to further their studies in the NUS, and

The unsuspecting general public and all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) should, please, note that the NUC is not a party to and, indeed, disavows the so-called Top-up Scheme, being concocted by the NBTE.

In the light of the above, the advice of the NUC is that the NBTE should focus on its core mandate and desists from introducing programmes that are outside its jurisdiction, and not supported by any law in Nigeria. The Commission does not entertain any intrusion into its lawfully assigned mandate.”

NUC disowns NBTE conversion of HND to degree programme

Education

78% of 2024 UTME candidates scored below 200 – JAMB

Published

17 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Trends Admin

Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede

78% of 2024 UTME candidates scored below 200 – JAMB

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, on Monday, released the results of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, showing that 1,402,490 candidates out of 1,842,464 failed to score 200 out of 400 marks.

The number of candidates who failed to score half of the possible marks represents 78 per cent of the candidates whose results were released by JAMB.

Giving a breakdown of the results of the 1,842,464 candidates released, the board’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, noted that, “8,401 candidates scored 300 and above; 77,070 scored 250 and above; 439,974 scored 200 and above while 1,402,490 scored below 200.”

On naming the top scorers for the 2024 UTME, Oloyede said, “It is common knowledge that the board has, at various times restated its unwillingness to publish the names of its best-performing candidates, as it considers its UTME as only a ranking examination on account of the other parameters that would constitute what would later be considered the minimum admissible score for candidates seeking admission to tertiary institutions.

“Similarly, because of the different variables adopted by respective institutions, it might be downright impossible to arrive at a single or all-encompassing set of parameters for generating a list of candidates with the highest admissible score as gaining admission remains the ultimate goal. Hence, it might be unrealistic or presumptive to say a particular candidate is the highest scorer given the fact that such a candidate may, in the final analysis, not even be admitted.

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“However, owing to public demand and to avoid a repeat of the Mmesoma saga as well as provide a guide for those, who may want to award prizes to this set of high-performing candidates, the Board appeals to all concerned to always verify claims by candidates before offering such awards.”

Oloyede also noted that the results of 64,624 out of the 1,904,189, who sat the examination, were withheld by the board and would be subject to investigation.

He noted that though a total of 1,989,668 registered, a total of 80,810 candidates were absent.

“For the 2024 UTME, 1,989,668 candidates registered including those who registered at foreign centres. The Direct Entry registration is still ongoing.

“Out of a total of 1,989,668 registered candidates, 80,810 were absent. A total of 1,904,189 sat the UTME within the six days of the examination.

“The Board is today releasing the results of 1,842,464 candidates. 64,624 results are under investigation for verification, procedural investigation of candidates, Centre-based investigation and alleged examination misconduct.”

Oloyede also said the board, at the moment, conducts examination in nine foreign centres namely: Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Buea, Cameroon; Cotonou, Republic of Benin; London, United Kingdom; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and Johannesburg, South Africa.

“The essence of this foreign component of the examination is to market our institutions to the outside world as well as ensuring that our universities reflect the universality of academic traditions, among others. The Board is, currently, fine-tuning arrangements for the conduct of the 2024 UTME in these foreign centres,” he said.

78% of 2024 UTME candidates scored below 200 – JAMB

Education

BREAKING: JAMB releases 2024 UTME results

Published

1 day ago

April 29, 2024

Trends Admin

BREAKING: JAMB releases 2024 UTME results

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has released the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results.

Over 1.94 million candidates registered and sat the examination in 118 towns and over 700 centres across the country.

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede announced the release of the UTME results at a press conference held at the board’s headquarters, Bwari, in Abuja on Monday.

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The examination which began on Friday, 19th April ended on Monday, 29th April 2024.

The board earlier explained that it chose to delay the release of the UTME results by some days because it needed some time to scrutinize the results to ensure credibility and integrity of the results, ensuring that there are no questions or any form of unclarity concerning the results particularly as regards the issue of impersonation, mixed biometrics, and other forms of malpractices.

BREAKING: JAMB releases 2024 UTME results

Education

JAMB likely to release 2024 UTME results today

Published

2 days ago

April 29, 2024

Trends Admin

JAMB likely to release 2024 UTME results today

Today marks a significant moment for students awaiting their fate in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) gears up to unveil the results.

Scheduled for a press conference in Abuja, JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede will shed light on the outcome of the examination and related matters.

Initial signs suggest that the results to be disclosed today pertain to candidates who took the UTME in its early stages. However, others may have to wait longer as the board ensures thorough scrutiny.

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JAMB had opted to delay the results release to conduct meticulous checks, prioritizing the credibility and integrity of the outcomes. This measure addresses concerns such as impersonation and irregular biometrics that could cloud the results.

The 2024 UTME, which commenced on April 19 and concludes today, witnessed an impressive turnout, with over 1.9 million candidates participating across 700 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.

Previously, JAMB habitually released results shortly after the examination. However, recent years revealed underlying issues prompting the board to adopt a more cautious approach, withholding results for further review to uphold standards and fairness.

JAMB likely to release 2024 UTME results today