NAPS condemns legal challenge to HND phase-out

The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has accused those challenging the discontinuation of the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Pharmaceutical Technology in polytechnics of undermining educational reforms aimed at improving standards.

NAPS president, Comrade Ridwan Opeyemi Munirudeen, made this assertion during a press briefing in Kaduna, where he criticized individuals taking the matter to court as placing personal interests above the collective good of polytechnic students.

He noted that the decision to phase out the HND program in favour of a National Diploma (ND) in Pharmacy Technician was reached after extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the Ministry of Education, and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN).

“The ongoing legal battle is not in the best interest of our students,” Munirudeen said. “We have worked tirelessly to ensure a smooth transition that protects current students while aligning our educational programs with national standards. Dragging this matter to court is a deliberate attempt to disrupt this progress.”

NAPS, he said, fully supports the resolution that allows current HND students to complete their programs but halts further admissions into the HND in Pharmaceutical Technology. Munirudeen called on those involved in the court case to reconsider their stance and prioritize the future of polytechnic education.

He also reaffirmed the association’s commitment to resisting any efforts to continue the HND program, stating that NAPS would stand firmly behind the NBTE and PCN in upholding the new educational directive. According to him, the association’s primary concern remains the welfare and educational advancement of polytechnic students across the country.

“We are not against reform, but it must be reform that benefits the students and enhances the quality of education in our polytechnics,” Munirudeen added.

NAPS urged all parties to respect the decisions of the regulatory bodies and work together towards strengthening polytechnic education in Nigeria.