The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has announced the unbundling of the Higher Education Diploma course in Computer Science as a result of emerging trends.
NBTE Executive Director, Prof Idris Bugaje, disclosed this in a letter addressed to all heads of polytechnics and mono-technics in the country, adding that four new specialised courses have been floated out of HND Computer Science.
In the letter dated 8 January, titled, ‘Unbundling of HND Computer Science Programme’, which was sighted by newsmen on Friday, Bugaje stated that students who have already been admitted into the former Computer Science programme will be phased out in 2025.
It read, “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 specialised 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”.
In his reaction to the development, an IT expert, Mr Abidemi Oderinlo, told Saturday PUNCH, “The unbundling is a welcome idea because it immediately takes the burden of being a ‘Jack of all trades’ away from the students, reducing course load and improving overall output”.
A Lagos-based tech consultant, Solomon Nwadike, in a chat with The PUNCH, faulted the move.
