Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The National Board for Technical Education has announced the unbundling of the Higher Education Diploma (HND) course in Computer Science following the emerging trends.
NBTE Executive Director, Prof Idris Bugaje, said this in a letter addressed to all heads of polytechnics and mono-technics in the country, stressing that four new specialised courses have been floated out of HND Computer Science.
In the letter dated January 8, titled, ‘Unbundling of HND Computer Science Programme,’ which is currently making the rounds quoted Bugaje to have stated that students who have already been admitted into the former Computer Science programme will be phased out in 2025.
“Due to emerging trends and the need to strategically position our graduates for more effective national development, I wish to notify you that the Board has unbundled the HND Computer Science programme run in all institutions under our purview.
“The new specialised areas floated out of the former are as follows: i) HND Artificial Intelligence ii) HND Networking and Cloud Computing iii) HND Software and Web Development iv) HND Cybersecurity and Data Protection.
“Consequently, there will no longer be admissions into the HND Computer Science programme from the 2024/2025 academic session. Students who have already been admitted into the former programmes are given up to 2025 to phase out. The grace period is to enable concerned institutions to graduate students who were admitted under the old curricula.
“In view of the above, you are requested to kindly note that admissions from the 2024/2025 academic session into the erstwhile HND Computer Science programme will be only in the aforementioned four specialized areas.
“While hoping that this information will be treated accordingly and given wide circulation through your good office, please accept the assurance of my highest regards and consideration”, the circular said.