The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, on Saturday called on the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, not to discriminate against National Diploma holders (Part Time Programmes) who went on to graduate with Higher National Diploma, HND, full time from being mobilised for the mandatory one year service.
The association’s Senate President, Comrade Akinteye Afeez, who made the appeal in a statement described the action of the NYSC as unacceptable, saying the discriminatory act does not address the real issues affecting Nigeria’s education sector.
He said “We wish to bring urgent attention to a critical issue affecting students who completed their National Diploma (ND) programs under the Daily Part-Time (DPP) mode and subsequently enrolled in full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) programs. These students are being denied NYSC registration due to the “(P)” designation attached to their JAMB registration numbers, which signifies their part-time status during the ND program.
“This problem has arisen despite these students having completed the required JAMB regularization process. The “(P)” designation, which is a remnant of their part-time ND status, is causing the NYSC portal to reject their registration, thereby preventing them from participating in the mandatory national service. This has caused significant distress and uncertainty among the affected students, who have otherwise fulfilled all necessary criteria for NYSC registration.
“We appeal to the Ministry of Education to urgently intervene in this matter. It is imperative that directives be given to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and NYSC to collaborate and find a swift resolution. Specifically, we request that JAMB initiate a consolidation process to update the registration status of these students, reflecting their transition from Daily Part-Time ND to full-time HND. This update will ensure that their JAMB registration numbers are accepted by the NYSC portal.
“Furthermore, we call on the Ministry of Education to instruct the NYSC to recognize the unique situation of these students and facilitate their registration. This can be achieved by overriding the system’s rejection of the “(P)” designation for students who have progressed to full-time HND programs. Ensuring that these students are not unfairly excluded from the NYSC program is crucial for their academic and professional futures.
“We acknowledge the precedent where students with similar backgrounds were successfully registered and mobilized in previous batches. This inconsistency needs to be addressed promptly to prevent further injustice. Clear communication from JAMB to educational institutions on the proper procedures for regularization is also essential to prevent recurrence of such issues.
“The affected students have shown commendable dedication by pursuing their education through part-time ND programs and advancing to full-time HND studies. Denying them the opportunity to serve their nation through the NYSC program due to bureaucratic technicalities is unjust and counterproductive. A prompt resolution to this issue will ensure that these students can proceed with their careers without unnecessary delays.
“We also extend our appreciation to the Minister of State for Youth for his prompt response to the issues raised. His attention to this matter provides hope that a fair solution will be found swiftly. We urge the Ministry of Education to support these efforts to ensure that these students can proceed with their NYSC registration without further hindrance. We also appeal to the Federal Government to channel more resources towards education and youth development, ensuring a brighter future for all Nigerian students.
“NANS stands in solidarity with the affected students and will continue to advocate on their behalf until a satisfactory resolution is achieved. We urge the Ministry of Education to act promptly to address this critical issue and ensure a just outcome for all affected students.”
