ASUP demands removal of dichotomy in academic progression of HND graduates

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) on Wednesday began fresh agitations for complete removal of the dichotomy between HND and BSc holders as regards academic progression.

Mr Usman Dutse, President of the union, who lauded the removal of dichotomy between university and polytechnic graduates in the civil service by the Federal Government, said that therte was the need for complete removal of the dichotomy in academic progression.

Dutse spoke with our correspondent on telephone.

He said that the Federal Government and the National Council on Education (NCE) should address academic progression of polytechnic graduates into universities.

The ASUP boss said that the disparity between graduates of universities and their polytechnics counterparts formed one of the core demands of the union.

According to him, graduates should be appreciated based on their intellect and contributions to the system and not because of where they come from.

“The removal of HND/BSc dichotomy is one of the things we have been agitating for and we believe that it is long overdue.

“We thank God that the Federal Government is recognising that and has issued a circular to that effect.

“The situation is not yet conclusive because this circular only applies to the civil service and not academic progression,’’ Dutse said.

He said that the dichotomy in the academic sphere placed an HND graduate, who wished to obtain a university degree on 200 levels – same level with a graduate of a college of education wishimg to crioss over to a university.

Dutse said the union was still expecting the NCE to correct the disparity.

“We will continue to dialogue with government until all the differences are corrected,” he said.

It was reported that the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, in a circular on March 26, communicated the decision of the National Council on Education to all concerned and solicited their support for its implementation.

The circular indicated that NCE approved entry point of Salary Grade Level (SGL) 08 for Higher National Diploma (HND) holders in the civil service.

It also encouraged serving HND officers to fulfill all specified conditions as contained in the scheme of service and extant rules for career progression beyond GL 14.

The dichotomy had restricted polytechnic graduates to a particular grade level in the civil service.