HND-Bsc Dichotomy: National Council On Establishment Bridges Gap

It was learnt that the National Council on Establishment has resolved that the entry point for HND holders into the civil service would henceforth be Grade Level 08, just like their bachelor degree holder counterparts.

This is in a bid to end the HND-BSc. dichotomy.

The Council equally approved the postgraduate diploma (PGD) as the bridge programme for holders of the Higher National Diploma (HND) to rise to the peak of their career just like their degree holders counterparts.

Before now, a polytechnic graduate with HND cannot be employed into the civil service on Grade Level 8 and cannot rise beyond Level 15 without additional qualifications (including a master’s degree), while a bachelor’s degree holder enters on Grade Level 08 and can rise to the peak at Grade Level 17 (equivalent of the Permanent Secretary cadre).

If a HND holder aspires to get to that level, he/she will have to obtain a PGD in relevant disciplines and also obtain a master’s degree before attaining the level a bachelors’ degree holder could attain, even without a second degree.

However, with this new development, HND holders will only need to acquire postgraduate diploma in relevant field from an accredited institution/university to attain the same status with their university graduate counterparts.