By Ige Olalekan Babatunde, Lighthouse Media Promotion
The recent discussions surrounding the proposed abolition of HND–BSc Top-Up programmes in Nigeria have generated serious concerns among students, education stakeholders, parents, and professionals across the country. While reforms in the education sector are necessary, abolishing the HND conversion pathway without providing a stronger and practical alternative may deepen educational inequality rather than solve it.
For decades, Nigeria has battled with the painful dichotomy between Higher National Diploma (HND) holders and Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree holders. Polytechnic graduates, despite their technical competence and practical exposure, continue to face discrimination in employment, promotion, salary structure, and career advancement. The HND–BSc Top-Up programme emerged as one of the few bridges helping thousands of Nigerians overcome this imbalance.
Therefore, rather than abolishing the programme, the Federal Government and educational authorities should focus on improving, regulating, and strengthening it to meet global academic standards.
Countries across the world already operate similar academic pathways successfully, and Nigeria should learn from these models instead of shutting down opportunities for its citizens.
Lessons from Developed Countries
In the United Kingdom, HND Top-Up programmes are widely recognized and respected. Universities such as Coventry University, Middlesex University, University of Portsmouth, and University of Sunderland allow HND graduates to proceed directly into the final year of bachelor’s degree programmes. The UK educational system understands that technical and vocational education is essential for industrial growth and national development.
The result has been enormous. Britain has successfully produced skilled graduates with both theoretical knowledge and practical competence. Their industries benefit from technically trained manpower, while students from working-class backgrounds enjoy flexible and affordable access to university education.
Canada also operates a flexible system that accommodates diploma and HND holders through university transfer and degree-completion programmes. Institutions such as Humber Polytechnic, Seneca Polytechnic, and Thompson Rivers University provide pathways for technical graduates to upgrade academically without restarting from the beginning. This system has strengthened Canada’s workforce development and improved access to higher education.
Ireland equally recognizes HND progression programmes through institutions such as Technological University Dublin and National College of Ireland. Their educational system encourages lifelong learning and academic progression, especially for students with practical and vocational backgrounds.
Australia, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates also maintain flexible academic transition systems for technical graduates. Germany, in particular, has become one of the world’s strongest industrial nations largely because it respects vocational and technical education. Universities of Applied Sciences in Germany integrate practical training with academic advancement, producing highly skilled professionals for engineering, manufacturing, and technology sectors.
These countries do not see technical education as inferior. Instead, they use it as a tool for national productivity, innovation, industrialization, and economic growth.
Why Nigeria Should Retain the HND Top-Up Programme
1. It Promotes Educational Inclusion
Many Nigerians who attend polytechnics do so because of financial limitations, admission challenges, or interest in technical education. Abolishing Top-Up programmes will close one of the few opportunities available for academic progression among polytechnic graduates.
Education should create opportunities, not barriers.
2. It Reduces Unemployment and Poverty
Thousands of HND holders use conversion programmes to improve their qualifications, compete fairly in the labour market, and secure better employment opportunities. Removing the programme may worsen unemployment and discourage young Nigerians from pursuing technical education.
3. It Supports National Development
Polytechnic graduates are among the most practical and industry-ready professionals in Nigeria. They contribute significantly to engineering, ICT, media production, business administration, technology, agriculture, and entrepreneurship.
Countries that invest in technical education grow faster industrially.
Nigeria cannot claim to pursue industrialization while weakening the academic advancement of technical graduates.
4. It Encourages Lifelong Learning
Top-Up programmes provide opportunities for workers and professionals to continue their education while employed. Many programmes are flexible, part-time, weekend-based, or online, helping individuals balance work and education.
This system improves human capital development and national productivity.
5. It Helps Bridge the HND–BSc Dichotomy
The discrimination against HND holders has existed for too long. Even the Federal Government recently acknowledged the need to abolish the HND–BSc dichotomy and empower polytechnics to award degree qualifications.
If government truly seeks equality in education, then pathways that help bridge the gap should be strengthened rather than abolished.
Countries Operating Similar Academic Progression Systems
The following countries currently operate systems similar to HND Top-Up or diploma-to-degree progression programmes:
•United Kingdom
•Canada
•Ireland
•Australia
•Germany
•New Zealand
•United Arab Emirates
•Malaysia
•South Africa
•Singapore
•Netherlands
•United States
•Scotland
•Wales
These nations understand that vocational education and university education should complement one another, not compete against each other.
The Economic Value to Nigeria
Retaining and improving Top-Up programmes can benefit Nigeria economically in several ways:
•Increased skilled manpower
•Reduction in graduate unemployment
•Stronger technical and industrial workforce
•Better entrepreneurship development
•Increased innovation and productivity
•Improved international educational competitiveness
•Higher revenue generation for institutions
•Reduction in brain drain
Nigeria’s economy needs technically skilled graduates now more than ever. Polytechnic education remains one of the strongest tools for economic transformation.
The Way Forward
Rather than abolishing HND Top-Up programmes, the government should:
•Standardize the curriculum nationwide
•Ensure strict accreditation and quality control
•Eliminate unapproved and illegal programmes
•Upgrade polytechnics to degree-awarding institutions
•Promote equal recognition between HND and BSc qualifications
•Strengthen partnerships between universities and polytechnics
•Improve funding for technical education
Abolition without adequate alternatives may create more educational hardship and widen the gap between privileged and less privileged students.
IN SUMMARY
Nigeria must stop treating technical education as inferior. The future of modern economies depends heavily on practical knowledge, innovation, technology, and vocational competence.
Countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Ireland, and Australia have embraced flexible academic progression systems because they understand the importance of inclusive education and workforce development.
The HND–BSc Top-Up programme should not be abolished. Instead, it should be reformed, strengthened, and properly regulated to meet global standards.
Nigeria needs more opportunities for its youth, not fewer.
Education should build bridges, not walls.
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