Some Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates across the country might be excluded from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) due to a new policy requiring Industrial Training (IT) certification. According to NYSC’s recent announcement on Facebook, HND graduates must now provide proof of completing a one-year IT before they can register for national service.
The NYSC stated, “HND graduates need to show evidence of their one-year Industrial Training along with their ND and HND Certificates or Statement of Results.” Without this IT certificate, graduates mobilized for Batch B Stream II will be unable to participate in the national service.
The new rule means that HND graduates who don’t have a valid IT certificate will be barred from registering at the camp. This poses a problem for many graduates who now need to obtain proof of their internship experience to join the upcoming orientation camp starting August 28, 2024.
The one-year IT program is a legal requirement for entering an HND program. The law mandates that polytechnic and mono-technic graduates complete this IT before applying for HND courses, and institutions should verify this before admission.
However, many HND institutions have not been enforcing this rule, leading to a large number of students facing difficulties with national service. Some institutions have admitted students without checking for the required IT certificate.
Yetunde Baderinwa, the NYSC coordinator in Lagos State, explained that the NYSC noticed many polytechnic and mono-technic graduates had not completed their mandatory IT before starting their HND programs. She emphasized that this certificate is necessary for HND admission.
Some affected graduates are asking for leniency, hoping the NYSC will work with their institutions to resolve the issue. They argue that the institutions should be held responsible for not enforcing the IT requirement.
Hauwa, a recent graduate from Kaduna State Polytechnic, shared her concern. She was excited about starting her national service but now fears she might be disqualified due to the new policy. Hauwa, who did not receive information about the IT requirement from her school, hopes for a resolution that considers her situation.
As Polytechnic graduates wait for further guidance, they hope for a fair solution that takes their circumstances into account while the new rule is implemented for future cohorts.
