By MUFTAU OGUNYEMI

Public Complaints Commission (PCC) and stakeholders have called for promotion of technical education to reframe public perception of Higher National Degree (HND) and bachelor?s degree disparity in civil service across the country.

Mr Kehinde Oni, PCC Federal Commissioner representing Ondo State, who made the call during a town hall/public hearing organised by the commission on Thursday in Akure, also called for upgrade of polythecnics.

The programme had the theme ?Town Hall/Public Hearing On Systemic And Proactive Investigation Into Disparity In Placement Of HND And BSC Holders In Civil Service?.

Oni said that the upgrade and promotion of polytechnics was to close the gap between HND and bachelor?s degree holders, and to solve future problems of the country.

According to him, it is imperative to revise public service rules to ensure parity between HND and BSC holders in career progression and remuneration.

?If HND is not recognised, then we are going to have issues providing technical skills required to build the nation.

?Though, some people are calling for scrapping of HND, I think is wrong and it?s not a good advice.

?Our polytechnics need to be upgraded and emphasise more on building skills like advanced vocational study.

?Campaigns highlighting the value of technical and vocational education must be intensified to reframe public perceptions, he said.

He, therefore, called on stakeholders for collective responsibility to ensure that the educational system did not create barriers, but build bridges.

?We must work together to create a society where qualifications are assessed based on competence, skills and the value they bring to the workplace, not societal prejudice or systemic bias,? Oni said.

Mr Ayo Aroge, Director, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), South-West, appreciated the commission for organising the public hearing.

He said there was need to scrap the HND to Bachelor of Technology for the holders to reach the director?s cadre.

?It is a national embarrassment for somebody that has five or six years training to be limited in terms of career moderation, this dichotomy should be removed.

?If the dichotomy is so difficult to remove, then HND should be scrapped completely and replaced with Bachelor of Technology so that it will automatically end this barrier,? he said.

He, therefore, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to sign the bill passed by the ninth assembly on the HND/BSC disparity for the benefit of holders and betterment of the country?s economy.

Mr Bayo Philip, Head of Service in Ondo State, said that there was the need for governments to upgrade polytechnics rather than setting up a new university of technology.

?Instead of building on what we have, government is trying to put a limitation on polytechnic and chart another course entirely.

?You have a polytechnic that you are supposed to upgrade, you leave that entirely and you are creating university of technology.

?Meanwhile, some of these old polytechnics need to be upgraded to degree awarding so that it will have an impact on the country?s economy.

Philip, therefore, reiterated his commitment to ensure that polytechnic graduates in Ondo State civil service would advance to grade 15 instead of 14, which was the level pegged by the government. (NAN)

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