The federal government has taken a significant step in reshaping the landscape of higher education by announcing the unbundling of the Higher National Diploma (HND) course in Computer Science.
The announcement, revealed in a recent letter signed by Prof Idris Bugaje, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has far-reaching implications for Polytechnics and Monotechnics nationwide.
In the official letter addressed to all relevant institutions, Prof Bugaje outlined that the existing Computer Science programs in Polytechnics and Monotechnics would cease to exist. The move is part of the government’s commitment to aligning education with emerging technological trends and strategically positioning graduates for national development.
With effect from the 2024/2025 academic session, the NBTE stated that admissions into the HND Computer Science program would no longer be available. However, students who have already been admitted into the former programs have been granted until 2025 to complete their studies.
As part of the restructuring, the government has introduced four specialized areas to replace the traditional Computer Science program. These include HND Artificial Intelligence, HND Networking and Cloud Computing, HND Software and Web Development, and HND Cybersecurity and Data Protection.
In the letter, it was further clarified that there would be exclusive admissions into the four specialized areas mentioned above, starting from the 2024/2025 academic session. The government encourages wide circulation of this information to ensure that institutions and stakeholders are adequately informed about the changes.
