Department of Science Laboratory Technology
Mr. Elijah Monday Iganga
Department of Science Laboratory Technology
The department of Science Laboratory Technology was formally known as Department of Basic and Applied Science (BAS), which was established in 2010. In 2013, the department was translated to Science Laboratory Technology (SLT), with Basic and Applied Science being a unit under SLT responsible for handling Pre-ND (Remedial Program). The unit (BAS) was headed by Mr. Nathaniel S. Muwa as Coordinator while A. A Abede was the Head of Department (HOD) of SLT from 2010-2015.
In 2016, Dr. Lamidi B. Tajudeen was appointed as HOD on acting capacity for only a period of one year. Again, A.A Abede was made the Head of Department, SLT from 2017-2020. In 2019, department of Biochemistry/Chemistry HND Programme was created as a unit under SLT. Again, in 2021, Dr. Lamidi B. Tajudeen was appointed for the second time as Head of Department. In 2022, the department was splitted into two, namely; Department of Science Laboratory Technology with Mr. Nathaniel S. Muwa appointed as Acting Head of SLT Department for-six months and then elected as substantial Head of Department for a period of three (3) years and Department of Biochemistry/Chemistry HND Programme with Dr. Lamidi B. Tajudeen appointed as Ag. HOD. The department of Science Laboratory Technology (SLT) got its first accreditation in 2015 and re-accreditation in 2023.
Certificate & Title of Programme
The certificate to be awarded and the programme title shall be read: “NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN SCIENCE LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY”.
Goals and Objectives
The National Diploma Programme in Science Laboratory Technology is designed to produce science laboratory technicians to install, maintain and repair laboratory equipment and carry out science laboratory practical in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. More specifically, diplomats of the programme can:
- identify laboratory equipment;
- set up the installation, configuration and the operation of laboratory equipment(s);
- set up the installation, configuration and the operation of laboratory equipment(s);
- set up the installation, configuration and the operation of the science laboratory equipment;
- Use appropriate equipment and apparatus to carry out simple tests and measurements on all specimens;
- carry out routine maintenance and cleaning of:
- Laboratory equipment;
- Laboratory reagents;
- Equipment store.
- construct simple circuit diagram;
- take specimen from plants, soil and human;
- present technical report; and
- manage a small laboratory enterprise.
Entry Requirements
- Entry requirements for the National Diploma in Science Laboratory Technology programme include at least a minimum score in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), five credit passes at not more than two sittings in West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE), Senior School Certificate of Education (SSCE), National Technical Certificate (NTC), General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary level, West African Examination Certificate (WAEC) or National Examination Council (NECO) in relevant subjects.
- The relevant subjects are: English Language, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and one other subject from: Mathematics, Geography, Agricultural Science, Economics, Commerce, Further Mathematics, and Computer Studies. (Details of Admission requirements are obtainable in the NBTE annual Directory of Accredited Programmes).
Admission Requirements
- SSCE/GCE/NECO with credits in English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Agricultural Science/Biology.
- ND holders in related disciplines may be considered for HND entry.
- Successful applicants must pass departmental screening and meet the institution's general admission rules.
Structure of Programme
The National Diploma Agricultural Technology is a two-year Programme i.e. four semesters of classroom, laboratory, field and workshop activities in the Polytechnic/College. Three months Supervised Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) shall be carried out at the end of each year of the Programme. Each semester shall be of 17 weeks duration made up as follows: 15 Contact weeks of teaching, i.e. recitation, practical exercises, quiz, tests, etc and 2 weeks for examination and registration.
Conditions of Award
Institutions offering accredited Programmes will award the National Diploma to candidates who successfully completed the Programme after passing prescribed course work, examinations, diploma project and the supervised industrial work experience. Such candidates should have completed a minimum of between 72 and 80 semester credit units depending on the Programme.
Evaluation Scheme
The National Diploma Agricultural Technology Examination must be externally moderated. In grading the students, theory shall constitute 50% while Practical is 50%.
Diplomas shall be classified as follows:
Distinction - GPA of 3.50 and above
Upper Credit - GPA of 3.00 - 3.49
Lower Credit - GPA of 2.50 - 2.99
Pass - GPA of 2.00 - 2.49
Fail - GPA of below - 2.00
Curriculum
The curriculum of the ND programme consists of three main components. These are:
- General Studies / Education
- Foundation Courses
- Professional Courses
The General Education Components include courses in:
- Art and Humanities – English Language, Communication, History
- Social Studies – Citizenship Education, Political Science, Sociology, Philosophy, Geography and Entrepreneurship Studies
The General Education component shall account for not more than 10 - 15% of total contact hours for the programme.
- Foundation Courses include courses in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Mathematics etc. The number of hours will be 10 - 15% of the total contact hours.
- Professional Courses are courses that give the student theory and practical skills he needed to practice at the Technician level. These may account for 60-70% of the contact hours.
- Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) are taken during the long vacation following the end of the second semester of the first year. See details of SIWES at paragraph 9.0.
Curriculum Structure
The structure of the ND Programme consists of four (4) semesters of classroom, laboratory and workshop activities in the Institution and a semester (3-4 months) of student industrial work experience scheme (SIWES). Each semester have seventeen (17) weeks of duration made up of:
- 15 contact weeks of teaching, i.e. recitation, practical exercises, quizzes, test, etc; and
- 2 weeks for examinations and registration. SIWES takes place at the end of the second semester of the first year.
Project
Project shall be submitted at the end of the second semester of the final year.
Accreditation
Each programme offered either at the ND level are to be accredited by the NBTE before the diplomates can be awarded either of the two diploma certificates. Details about the process of accrediting a programme for the award of ND are available from the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education, Plot B Bida Road, P.M.B. 2239, Kaduna, Nigeria.
Conditions for the Award of ND:
The Institution offers award of the National Diploma to candidates who successfully completed the programme for all accredited programmes after passing prescribed course-work, examinations, diploma project and the supervised industrial work experience. Such candidates must have completed a minimum of 90 and 100 semester credit units.
SYNOPSIS OF THE ACADEMIC & CAREER PROGRESSION OF ND HOLDER He/She;
- Can be admitted into HND programmes e.g Microbiology, Environmental Biology, Biochemictry/Chemistry and Physics and Electronics.
- Can be admitted through direct entry (DE) into bachelor’s degree programmes
- Can work as a technician
- Can manage small scale laboratory-based firms, business science laboratories and any other related enterprise(s)
Guidance Note for Teachers Teaching the Programmes
The new curriculum is drawn in unit courses. This is in keeping with the provisions of the National Policy on Education which stress the need to introduce the semester credit units which will enable a student, who so wish, to transfer the units already completed in an institution of similar standard from which he is transferring.
In designing the units, the principle of the modular system by product has been adopted, thus making each of the professional modules, when completed provides the student with technician operative skills, which can be used for employment purposes.
As the success of the credit unit system depends on the articulation of programmes between the institution and industry, the Curriculum content has been written in behavioral objectives, so that it is clear to all the expected performance of the student who successfully completed some of the courses or the diplomates of the programme. There is a slight departure in the presentation of the performance based curriculum which requires the conditions under which the performance is expected to be carried out and the criteria for the acceptable levels of performance.
It is a deliberate attempt to further involve the staff of the department teaching the programme to write their own curriculum stating the conditions existing in their institution under which the performance can take place and follow that with the criteria for determining an acceptable level of performance. The Academic Board of the institution may vet departmental submission on the final curriculum. Our aim is to continue to see to it that a solid internal Evaluation system exist in each institution for ensuring minimum standard and quality of education in the programmes offered throughout the polytechnic system.
The teaching of the theory and practical work are integrated. Practical exercises, especially those in professional courses and laboratory work are taught using the idea from the theory courses. For each course, there is a balance of theory to practical and are scored separately for the students to be properly grounded in each course (Theory 100%, Practical 100%).
To be considered a specialist teaching this programme, the Lecturer/Technologist must possess qualifications in SCIENCE LABORATORY or related science disciplines, e,g. Physics, Biology, Chemistry, etc.
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