Education
Technical Education: The Way Forward
Technical and Vocational Education as seen in the National Policy on Education (2004), has been defined as those involving, in addition to general education, the study of technologies and related sciences and the acquisition of practical skills, attitudes, understanding and knowledge relating to occupations in various sectors of economic and social life. Therefore, technical and vocational education is based on: Providing trained manpower in applied science, technology and business particularly at craft, advanced craft and technical levels.
Providing the technical knowledge and vocational skills necessary for agricultural, commercial and economic development.
Giving training and impart the necessary skills to individuals who shall be self-reliant, economically. (NPE, 2004).
From the outlined objectives, can we say that they are implementable in our TVET institution? The policy issues have been documented, but how many of these, have been given its place in the Nigerian TVET institutions? What this synopsis seeks to examine is the place of Technical, Vocational Education and Training in the Nigerian TVET institutions.
An overview of TVET in the Nigeria institutions reveals that, TVET is still at the state of theoretical, but not practical. TVET institutions emerged with the purpose of training the young minds, but end up not achieving their purpose; for instance, the government is aware that only limited facilities exist in the Technical Colleges and Universities yet, neither comment nor action is made to achieve the goal of TVET stated by them. Most academic institutions suffer so many set-backs in terms of infrastructure like inadequate accommodation for learning, lack of post-graduate classrooms or lecture theatre, lack of functional facilities for learning, etc in terms of manpower, there are limited staff in the institutions, at times they end-up not being processional; the graduate-assistants are used more than required, just to meet-up with the demands of job in these institutions. Though the knowledge is exploding, but the equipment to practice with becomes a challenge.
Another challenge here is that the mind-set of parents and the community at large is very negative towards TVET, because of lack of adequate orientation and public enlightenment of what TVET entails in the society. The society believes that such occupations as medical, law, engineering and other big-named occupations, place people on better occupational opportunities than the vocational occupations. Because of this, TVET is looked down at, and indeed it is an obstacle to improve the social statusquo of TVET. This being the case, Osinem (2006) opined that the challenges are to create vocational programmes that deliver professionally successful graduates.
However, TVET institutions should take it as pride to show-case TVET to the society and its value. In the western world, TVET graduates are queued for, to be employed, because the society knows their value. Let the institutions, role out this enlightenment and see if they will not have more boost than ever imagined.
The concept of Vocational Training differs from technical, vocational education and training. Vocational training involves the informal development of practical skills, knowledge and altitudes by imitation, observation or incidental participation under a master or graduate unlike the TVET, Vocational Training is not systematically organised, but geared towards informal skill acquisition which is not our focus.
From the foregoing, it is pertinent to understand absolutely the following roles of TVET in national development if properly placed in the TVET institutions.
TVET is highly instrumental to a buoyant modern economy, by way of rapid growth development, skilled personnel in agriculture, construction, commerce and others.
TVET can meet the manpower needs of Nigeria by planning and providing programmes which result in satisfied employee and employer in those needed occupation, thereby fulfilling its economic role in the nation. TVET fosters creativity in students. TVET a is form of Education which emphasises the development of occupational skills needed as preparation for work.
Therefore, the TVET institutions should be adequately taken care of by funding the TVET centres, employ more professional staff, rehabilitate and provide more facilities (equipment/personnel) for learning, organise and sensitise the masses on the importance of TVET including its vocational opportunities opened to its graduates after school and so on. By doing these, I believe that TVET shall have a best place or place value in our TVET institutions, and they shall do better than expected in our society.
Ajie wrote in from Port Harcourt.
Godstime Uche Ajie
The Executive Chairman of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, Alabo David Briggs and his Post Primary Schools Board, counterpart, Dr. Sam Emejuru recently embarked on a joint visit to Model Girls Secondary School, Mbodo Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Arera of Rivers State.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after interacting with the students, Alabo Briggs said both of them were in the school to know how the students are faring, how happy they are, and to also know their areas of need and then take pragmatic decisions that would enhance the wellbeing of the students.
Describing the school as the only boarding school in Rivers State made up of Senior and Junior Secondary, the UBE boss said the visit has actually afforded them the opportunity to know what is lacking in the school, and promised that every machinery would be adequately put in place to ensure that the school is made more attractive and students well taken care of.
He further maintained that the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and staff of the school must rise to the occasion so as to bring back the lost glory of the school and ensure that the students are treated and well handled like their own children.
Corroborating the UBE boss, Dr. Sam Emejuru of the Post Primary School promised that everything possible would be done to reposition the school, and appealed to all concerned to be patient.
During the visit, the two Board chairmen and their members met with the school authorities wherein issues bordering on the school were discreetly ironed out and some good changes made.
Alabo Briggs also gave cash to some of the students that performed well in the essay competition that took place in Port Harcourt.
The students were also given cartons of sanitary pads to mark the International Day of the Girl Child which was celebrated all over the world recently.
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) support programme on report writing for Chief Supervisors and Evaluators of the Local Government Areas took place recently at the UBE Board Headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Addressing the participants, the Board member in charge of Supervision/Monitoring, Chief Nwuke Anucha, described the programme as very interesting and educative as it is aimed at broadening the knowledge of the Chief Supervisors and Evaluators on report writing.
While thanking UBEC for the initiative, Chief Anucha also commended the resource persons who came from UBEC Abuja for doing a good job and appealed to the participants to see the support programme on report writing as an opportunity to do better.
Also speaking, the Board member, Project/Technical, Dr. Walson Ominini described the programme as a good one that all the participants must take seriously for the good of Rivers State.
Ominini used the medium to announce the personnel audit for staff of the Local Government Education Authorities in the three Senatorial zones coming up next week at the Board Headquarters adding that any staff of the LGEA who does not take part in the Audit should regard himself or herself as not being a staff of UBE.
In her vote of thanks, the Director, Quality Assurance, Mrs. Nnenna Osumenya thanked UBEC for the programme, and described it as a welcomed development.
She particularly thanked the Executive Chairman of the Board, Alabo David Briggs and the Board members for giving the programme the needed attention.
By: Akujobi Amadi
In cognizance of the value of reading in educational, career and knowledge pursuits, TotalEnergies Joint Venture(JV) Asset has committed itself to instilling the habit in students of secondary schools to enable them succeed in their academic pursuits and become good leaders of tommorow.
This, it is achieving through its Annual Book Reading and Open Day programme.
This year’s event, organised for Senior Secondary Schools in Rivers State,with the theme, ‘The World Is A Maze; Navigate It — Read’ and held at the Event Centre, TotalEnergies Office, PortHarcourt, explored the book, ‘Unexpected Joy At Dawn’ by Ghanaian author, Alex Agyei Agyiri.
Participating schools chosen across Port Harcourt included Government Technical College, PortHarcourt; Bishop Crowther Memorial Secondary School, Rumuobiakani; Oginigba Comprehensive Secondary School; Community Secondary School, Rumuomasi, and Hilltop Prime International College.
Others were Community Secondary School, Amadi-Ama; Government Senior Secondary School, Elekahia; Community Secondary School, Nkpogu; Dietams International Schools; and Community Secondary School, Abuloma.
In his address, the Deputy Managing Director, Joint Venture Asset, TotalEnergies EP, Nigeria Limited, Olivier Cassassoles, said reading habit remains a major essential needed for life’s development in information, direction and character building, and stressed the need for the students, many of whom he said would grow to become leaders to cultivate and sustain the culture.
Cassassoles, who was represented by the Executive Director, JV Asset, PortHarcourt, Obi Imemba, quoted former American President, Barack Obama’s words, “reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible” and stated that “this clearly aligns with the theme of the day and implies that in order to successfully navigate the complexities of life, one needs to read”.
Cassassoles said “as students, many of you will grow to be leaders and leaders need a lot of information to stay relevant. The books you read will shape your future and through them you will find wisdom to make a difference”.
According to him, the book reading event is one that the company holds dear to heart as it promotes the culture of reading among students in Nigeria.
While encouraging the students to make conscientious effort to research good books with themes and characters that align with what they intend to do in future, Cassassoles expressed the hope that the students would commit themselves to a life of reading, adding that “I expect that you will be leaving here with a clearer idea of the career path you want to pursue “.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Education, Dr Ovy Chinedum Chukwuma, described this year’s theme as ‘most appropriate’ at a time when students have abandoned the text book for not only the phone – Whatsapp, Twitter etcetera but other vices.
Represented by the Technical Adviser to the Commissioner, Dr Joy Nwamaka Joseph, Chukwuma noted that reading is an effective tool for engaging students in critical thinking, saying “a student that reads focuses attention on the task at hand, immersing them in information and improving his/her concentration and memory”, insisting that students must read in order to navigate this maze-like world successfully.
The Commissioner commended TotalEnergies for “always seeking to improve the educational standards of our pupils, students, under/post graduates in our institutions and for inspiring them to develop the habit of reading as a life style”.
Earlier, the Country Communications Manager, TotalEnergies, Charles Ebereonwu, revealed that the annual reading event is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) targeted at making the best of future leaders.
In his closing remarks, the Special Adviser, People and Talent Management, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, Samuel Nkwo, lauded the students for going beyond reading the book to taking lessons there from.
“What has happened here today has given us encouragement that this is a good thing to do and that we should continue to do it” Nkwo said.
Highlights of the event included reading and discussion of the book, ‘Unexpected Joy At Dawn’, questions and answers session and presentation of gift items including school bags, solar lamps, books among others to the students.
By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu