Where is Nigeria in the long history of vocational and technical education? While career education has continued to thrive in many societies, it is unfortunately an area that is neglected in Nigeria a. No wondered why things are not working as they should in Nigeria! The neglect of vocational education is rubbing the nation of the contribution their graduate would make on the economy; the graduates could establish small –scale businesses and employ the youths that roam the streets. It is, therefore, socially injurious to neglect this important area or look down on its graduates. the society need competent auto mechanics and truck drivers,
carpenters, plumbers, electrons and computers, database, web and network technicians, bookkeepers, and clerks, medical technicians and nursing assistants (and other personnel in this category) to function well. These are some of the skills in short supply in Nigeria. The half –baked roadside mechanics in the society often cause more damages to vehicles when they are contracted to service them. And because of poor training some of the commercial drivers on the road and nurses assistants in the hospitals have sent many people to their early death. Given these facts, it is a disservice to the society to neglect vocational education. The current preoccupation with university education in Nigeria is counterproductive, as not everyone needs a university education. It also reduces economic opportunities for students who are more oriented toward work than academic
Millions of Nigerian youths are n secondary (high ) school, but some of them would not graduate. They could drop out along the way and others would not go beyond high school. Because of paucity of data, it is difficult to put a figure on high school dropout rates in Nigeria, but is suffices to say that the graduation rate is not impressive (specially the boys for some reasons). Given the general neglect of education and the resultant frequent l strike actions, etc many of those who enter the university may not obtain a degree, because post –secondary education could drag out for years. But who would employ them if everyone became a university graduate? Would the needs of the society be met? Nigeria needs competent technicians to maintain its infrastructure- NEPA plants and telephone circuits and lines, roads and bridges, etc. in many societies, graduates of vocational and technical institutions are highly skilled entrepreneurs, but the society does not seem to encourage the youth to take this route. Unfortunately, those who influence education policy in the society (legislators, educators, the media, etc) appear to feel that graduates of technical / vocational institutions are not equal to university graduates. This attitude reflects on the employers preference for regular university graduates and the pay disparity between vocational/technical and university graduates
The neglect of technical and vocational education may have contributed to the high unemployment and rising poverty among the youth because many of them lack the basic job skills. They are struggling with the challenge of acquiring “ employability” skills because the society is focused mostly on formal university education . But investment in skill training and trade schools is a worthwhile social investment. The graduates would become small business owners and employer of labour; this is the case in many societieis where small businesses are the highest employers of labor. High school students in Nigerian should be made to gain knowledge of workplace culture and values along with general education competency. This would provide them a variety of skills to manage small –scale businesses and to gain employment after graduation. The current social and economic changes in the world have altered the conditions and structure of employment and employers now require their employees to posses some technical skills. those who could not go beyond elementary school (high school/ university graduates who lack job skills) are facing enormous challenges because they are unqualified to secure a decent job
That is why the introduction of enterprannel sure acquisition is a welcome programme. it has been well documented that Nigeria higher institutions (due to many years of neglect ) alack the tools to give students the skill employers need, and this situation seems to apply to graduates in all disciplines. there should therefore be some form of genuine school –work –based learning incorporated in some studies as part of the national economic development strategies. the development of apprenticeship scheme would give new graduates some work skills and experience. Thus university education should encompass economic, educational, and social objectives.
One possible approach to reverse this trend would be to increase funding for technical and vocational education and make it affordable to enable the youths acquire the necessary skills for jobs and self-employment. As a policy, high schools in every local government areas should be made to set up technical and vocational center where the youths could learn some trade. Some of the so- called “expatriate engineers” who are being aphid unimaginable amount of dollars to build the roads and bridges in Nigeria l are graduates of technical and vocational colleges, yet, Nigeria looks down on her graduates of vocational and technical education! Perhaps, this is one of the main reasons for the low interest in technical schools. As the vanguard of No 25 , 2004 noted, about one percent (1%) of the resources (if not less) for secondary education is channeled towards technical and vocational skills in the country.
RELEVAN
CE OF TEVE
Nigeria youths a facing myrid challenges in terms of sustainable employment, poverty alleviation, war against social vices and economic emancipation/empowerment. This Myrid of problems can only be solved by the TVE relution expressed below:
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND EMANCIPATION
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