The Nigerian federal government has taken a significant step by unbundling the Higher Education Diploma course in Computer Science, as revealed in a recent communication signed by Prof Idris Bugaje, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). The directive, addressed to all Polytechnics and Monotechnics nationwide, outlined the cessation of the computer science program in these institutions.
According to the NBTE, admissions into the HND Computer Science program will no longer be accepted from the 2024/2025 academic session. However, students currently enrolled in the former program have been granted until 2025 to complete their studies and phase out. The restructuring aims to keep pace with emerging trends and strategically position graduates for more effective national development.
The unbundling of the HND COMPUTER SCIENCE program has given rise to new specialized areas, including HND Artificial Intelligence, HND Networking and Cloud Computing, HND Software and Web Development, and HND Cybersecurity and Data Protection. The announcement encourages institutions to only admit students into these specified areas from the 2024/2025 academic session onwards. The NBTE emphasizes the importance of disseminating this information widely to ensure awareness and understanding across the educational landscape.
