FG Set To Transform Technical and Vocational Education in Nigeria

Transforming Technical and Vocational Education
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The federal government's plan to transform the nation's technical and vocational education is bound to receive the approval of well-meaning Nigerians, especially those who are concerned about the appalling lack of skills in the education system which has made it difficult for Nigerian youths to be self-employed or be employable. Over the past two or three decades, Nigeria has been saturated with unemployment that has affected graduates and non-graduates from all parts of the country. This has been blamed on the absence of well-funded practical education that can be acquired at the technical and vocational institutions as was the case before the introduction of the 6-3-3-4 system more than two decades ago.

Vocational institutions such as technical and commercial schools that operated side by side with teacher training colleges and grammar schools in those good days were run for just three years, after which their graduates sat for vocational examinations. Such vocational and technical education even went beyond certificates as students acquired practical education that made them self-employed as electricians, plumbers, pipe fitters, mechanics, stenographers, typists, book-keepers, among others.

There is no doubt that the foundation of great economies all over the world is anchored in skill-acquisition centres as exemplified in technical and vocational education. The absence of this system of education has made Nigeria a dumping ground for technical school leavers from Europe and Asia. This is why the federal government's plan to transform the nation's technical education should be encouraged.

Reports suggested that the federal government has gone beyond the realm of rhetoric and is building synergy with international development partners to ensure that a workable framework is developed to achieve the administration's goal. Already, the federal government's team led by Chief Ezenwa Nyesom Wike, the country's minister of state for education, has made a pact with Highbury College, Portsmouth, in the United Kingdom, to fashion out the modalities of implementing the technical and vocational education framework.

While we acknowledge the importance of this programme, we urge the federal government to monitor its implementation which could be encumbered by corruption and red tape as is common in other schemes. Indeed, such technical and educational centres should be established in each of the 774 local government areas. State governments should also key into this programme; they should build their own technical and vocational schools in strategic local government areas all over their states. This will help to reduce the problem of unemployment.

We call on the federal government to sensitise investors, wealthy citizens and non-governmental organisations to take interest in establishing vocational centres all over the country.

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