The Federal Government has resolved the long-standing issue regarding the mobilisation of Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, announced on Thursday that only full-time HND graduates will be eligible for NYSC mobilisation. This decision follows extensive discussions with NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, aimed at addressing concerns over the exclusion of certain HND graduates, particularly those who completed their National Diploma (ND) through part-time programmes.
In recent years, controversy surrounded the NYSC mobilisation process, as many HND holders who had obtained their ND through part-time studies found themselves ineligible. This led to widespread protests and concerns over fairness in the system.
However, recent developments also revealed cases where even full-time HND graduates were excluded from mobilisation due to administrative issues. In response, the Ministry of Education’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, confirmed in a statement on Thursday night that the matter had been successfully addressed.
The statement described the decision as a major breakthrough for full-time HND graduates, who will now be included in the NYSC programme. It also reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to fairness, equity, and inclusivity in Nigeria’s education system.
However, graduates who pursued part-time HND programmes will remain ineligible for mobilisation. To streamline the process, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to expedite the collation of data for eligible HND graduates. A circular has also been sent to all Rectors of Polytechnics, instructing them to upload graduate data onto a newly created HND admission portal. The Minister emphasised that only full-time HND graduates will be mobilised for NYSC. He also noted that the new portal will ensure proper documentation and serve as an official database for mobilisation, addressing previous challenges with admission records.
Dr. Alausa urged all eligible full-time HND graduates to take advantage of this opportunity and proceed with their mobilisation without delay. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing equal opportunities for all qualified Nigerian graduates and ensuring their participation in national development through the NYSC scheme.
“Following a dialogue with the Director-General of NYSC, the Minister confirmed that only full-time HND graduates are eligible and can now proceed with their Mobilisation. “To facilitate a seamless mobilization process, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to expedite the collation of data for eligible HND Graduates. “In line with this, a circular has been sent to all Rectors of Polytechnics, instructing them to upload the necessary graduate data onto the newly created HND admission portal,” it said.
Source : https://www.thisdaylive.com/
