The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to allow Higher National Diploma (HND) holders, who completed their National Diploma (ND) through part-time programs, to participate in the national service.
NANS highlighted that students who completed their ND programs under the Daily Part-Time (DPP) mode and later enrolled in full-time HND programs are being denied the opportunity to serve in the NYSC due to the “(P)” designation on their JAMB registration numbers, which indicates their part-time status during the ND program. This issue, despite these students completing the JAMB regularization process, is causing the NYSC portal to reject their registrations.
In a statement released on Saturday, by NANS Senate President, Afeez Babatunde Akinteye expressed concern over the distress and uncertainty this situation has caused among the affected students. He appealed to the federal Ministry of Education to intervene urgently and direct the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and NYSC to resolve the issue swiftly.
Akinteye stated, “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 on 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.”
He further explained that the “(P)” designation is causing the NYSC portal to reject their registration, 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.
Akinteye urged the Ministry of Education to instruct JAMB to update the registration status of these students, reflecting their transition from Daily Part-Time ND to full-time HND. He also called on the Ministry to instruct the NYSC to recognize the unique situation of these students and facilitate their registration by overriding the system’s rejection of the “(P)” designation.
He emphasized that ensuring these students are not unfairly excluded from the NYSC program is crucial for their academic and professional futures. NANS stands in solidarity with the affected students and will continue to advocate on their behalf until a satisfactory resolution is achieved.
Akinteye concluded, “We urge the Ministry of Education to act promptly to address this critical issue and ensure a just outcome for all affected students.”