There has been a historic and general discrimination against Nigerian polytechnic graduates, obviously to the disheartenment, discomfort and chagrin of these graduates. To judge if polytechnic graduates are on par with University graduates, one needs to understand the fundamental difference and aims between both types of institutions. Universities are degree-awarding institutions created by the Nigerian government to focus on research work and train students on the theoretical reasons and logic behind a certain field, they offer mainly non-vocational subjects. As a university graduate, you are usually a pseudo-scholar.
Polytechnics on the other hand are diploma-awarding institutions created by the Nigerian government to focus on practical application of the theories of respective fields and some of the courses offered are in vocational subjects. As a polytechnic graduate, you are usually a professional technician. Outside Nigeria, some polytechnics are known to be heavily involved in research work as well as practical application, but to the best of my knowledge, I think the Nigerian education system is structured differently and the “Universities of Technology” (like FUTO, FUTA etc.) cover these research spaces, not the Polytechnics. In Nigeria, entry into Polytechnics usually requires a lower academic standard than entry into Universities. Furthermore the end product of a Polytechnic education, a diploma, is inferior in value to the end product of a University education, an academic degree. As a matter of fact, in the UK, the highest diploma awarded in a Polytechnic, a HND, will allow the recipient register for the 2nd year of a 3 year degree. This clearly states that the value is short of a degree.
The reality is that scholarly work is intellectually more stretching than practical applications. All these do not mean that the Polytechnic graduate is necessarily inferior or irrelevant; it just means their avenue is not the pinnacle of academic challenge. Neither does it mean all university graduates are better academically than all Polytechnic graduates. As a matter of fact, many countries in Europe like Germany have a system that kind of blends the 2 format together, i.e. students learn both the theory and the application over many years. That is why unlike the UK where students graduate at around 21, in Germany, students graduate at 25 years plus.
In a sane society, which Nigeria is not one, both graduates have their importance in helping to develop the economy and would fit right into the economic system and the rampant stupidity of making polytechnic graduates feel less human would not exist. Yes, a university degree is superior but practical application is important, what the government needs to do is stop this stupid discrimination plus also provide an avenue for poly-graduates (that choose) to progress over many years, whether through classroom-based teaching or practical application, to qualify for a degree-level certification to put them on par with university graduates. All the discriminatory bar on Poly-graduates from progressing to the peak in civil service must cease and be banned.
