EDUCATION

After a National Diploma (ND) in Polytechnic, What Next? (A must-read for ND holders)

The National Diploma (ND), formerly known as the Ordinary National Diploma (OND), is a two-year program that teaches students in a particular discipline and prepares the holders of this certificate for jobs related to their field of study. ND holders will have entry-level employment skills to function as technicians, higher technicians, technologists, or professionals, depending on the level of training, in their fields of specialization.

Many polytechnic students who recently signed out of the institution always have serious thoughts about what to do after their ND programs and the best option regarding their career path and academic journey. Well, if you are one of those polytechnic students that just graduated from the ND program, this post is for you, as we are going to highlight five important things that you can choose to do after your ND or OND program.

After ND, what next?

Below are some of the options available for you after your ND program in the polytechnic:

1. INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (I.T).

After your National Diploma, what you are expected to do next is go for industrial Training (IT), which usually lasts between 6 months and one year. This training is made compulsory by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to give the student the opportunity to have more practical knowledge about their field of study or specialization.

If you are from the school of engineering and science, you can go for your one-year industrial training. Although I.T isn’t as compulsory as it was portrayed. Click here to see the advantages and disadvantages of industrial training and to know whether this is the best option for you after your ND program.

2. SKILL ACQUISITION.

After your National Diploma (ND), the next thing to do is get a profitable skill. This option is best for students who don’t want to go for industrial training, and instead you can use this one year to add more value to your CV by learning a digital skill.

There are over one million graduates being produced every year by Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, among others, and you can see your chance of getting a job is slim, so after your ND, try to use that one year to learn any skill of your choice, whether a digital skill or entrepreneurship skills. Some of the digital skills you can learn after your ND are graphic design, web development, programming, data analysis, affiliate marketing, content creation, mini-importation, etc.

You can also learn any entrepreneurship skills like tailoring, barbing, makeup, soap making, event decoration, hair dressing, etc. Just pick anyone that you have passion for and go for it.

When you learn this skill at this early stage, it will be very useful for you when you further your education in future, as you will no longer have to depend fully on your parents, and you will be doing well financially.

After my ND, I learned graphic design and video editing, and this skill was very helpful to me when I returned for my HND, as I got half of my school fees from the service I rendered for my clients. Now I’m a graduate, and my skills are still paying off. Do not postpone it; after your ND, what should come to mind is learning a skill, and trust me, you will enjoy this option.

3. SEEK JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

There are many job opportunities specified for National Diploma (ND) holders only, and you can apply for them if you have the opportunity. Even if you get a good job with a nice salary, don’t forget your dreams and ambitions. Remember, “salary is the money they pay you to forget your dreams,” so whatever amount you are being paid, make sure you save for rainy days, perhaps if you still have the desire to further your education.

If you don’t have money, this option is for you to work so you can save, then use the little you have saved to prepare to further your education, or better still use the money to learn a profitable skill or invest it in yourself.

4. START A BUSINESS.

There are some students who don’t like to work for people or do industrial Training either. It will be the best option if you can invest your money in some profitable businesses that will multiply in the next 1-2 years. Just think about any business that interests you; if you don’t have capital to start, you can try option 3 above, and when you have money, use it to invest in the business.

By the time you return to school to further your education, you will be doing well already, and from there, you can now begin to plan your life in preparation for the future. If you have no experience in any business, it is important that you talk to anyone who can mentor you to succeed in the business field rather than jump into a business you really have no idea about.

5. ACADEMIC PROGRESSION.

After earning your National Diploma (ND), the next thing that is important is to further your education. This will be a year after your graduation. Before you arrive at this stage, you must have passed through options 1–4 above, and here there are two things to do after your ND, which are:

(a) Apply for HND:

The Higher National Diploma (HND) is the next step after the NATIONAL DIPLOMA(ND). This program has a duration of 2 years, and you will need your ND result to further your education. If your CGPA is below 2.50, you may have to wait two years before you can proceed with HND. Meanwhile, you can check here for the lists of the polytechnics that accept pass grades for HND admission.

You can decide to return to your school or another polytechnic for your HND program. This option is best for ND graduates who don’t want to waste more of their time at home.

b. Direct Entry:

After your National Diploma (ND), you can cross over to the university to further your education by applying for direct entry through Jamb. Here, you will be admitted to the 200-level to study the same course you studied in your ND or any other related option for the course.

To gain admission to the 200 level In university, you must have at least a minimum of upper credit (a CGPA of 3.00 or above). However, there are some universities that accept lower credit for direct entry. In addition, you can check how to gain direct entry admission to universities in Nigeria here.

HND or Direct Entry: which one is the best?

It depends on your grade. If you graduated with a good result, going to the university might be the right choice, but your chance of being offered admission is slim, whether your grade is good or not. So I think applying for a Higher National Diploma (HND) is still the best option because the program is fast and your chance of gaining admission is guaranteed.

What advice do you have for students who want to apply for DE?

Even with upper credit and distinction, some universities will still not admit you through direct entry, so if you have the desire to cross to the university, you must have a good grade, and you also need to kill two birds with one stone, meaning if you are applying for direct entry, you must also apply for an HND form. In case the D.E. didn’t work as planned, you can easily switch back to the polytechnic.

How many years should I wait before applying for direct entry or HND?

As for HND, you must wait a year before you can be eligible to apply after the ND program. Meanwhile, direct entry doesn’t have a stipulated time, but if we are to look at it critically, it’s the same all the way: you will have to wait for one year too because your results won’t come out immediately after you graduate.

Thus, whether you want to do direct entry or HND, you still have to wait for one year, and this is the reason for this post. What will you be doing during the year? We’ve given you five (5) good options for you to explore, and the choice is now yours to make.

What can I do with my ND certificate?

There are lots of things you can do with your ND certificate, depending on your discipline. Banking jobs, government jobs, industrial attachments, companies, and private establishments require the services of ND holders. You can submit your CV to companies for employment opportunities.

Is it worth it to return to school for my ND or degree program?

You see, nobody knows tomorrow, and education plays an important role in our lives. It is worth it to return to school for your HND program or cross over to the university for a degree. Never underestimate yourself. Make sure you further your education after your ND program so you can be referred to as a “graduate,” because an ND certificate alone is just like a “half-baked loaf.” The higher your qualifications, the more you earn.

What is the difference between ND and HND?

ND stands for National Diploma (ND), while HND stands for Higher National Diploma. ND is for O’level certificate holders, while HND is for ND holders. Both are 2 years each, and you must do ND first before HND.

Can I go for NYSC after my ND?

No! You will be mobilized for NYSC only after your HND or degree program, and this is why it is important for every ND holder to further their education.

IN CONCLUSION:

There are five options waiting for you after your National Diploma in Polytechnic, and they are: industrial training (I.T.), Skill Acquisition, Employment Opportunities, Direct Entry to universities, and applying for HND program. The most important option that every student should be familiar with is skill acquisition or business.

No matter your level of education or exposure, make sure you empower yourself with a profitable skill or a business, as this will be beneficial to you when you return to school for HND or DE programs, and even when you finally decide to settle down for your dream job, this skill will be a bonus to you, maybe not now but definitely in future.