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 area that is
neglected in Nigeria. 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 business 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 personnels in this category) to function well. These are
some of the skills supply in Nigeria. The half-baked roadside mechanics in the
society often cause more damages to vehicles when they are contacted to service
them. And because of poor training some of the commercial drives 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
It is the pivot upon
which the productivity of the nation revolves. The economic growth of the
nation is directly proportional to the level of TVE compliance. It is the
engine for the economic growth. The progress of any well meaning country lies
in the world needs educated and skilled workers and vocational and technical
education could field the void. Sadly, Nigeria which lies been lagging behind
in preparing her work force for the great challenges the changing global
economy is making up from her dip slumber. It appears that the issue of
teaching life long skills to the youths in particular has started to attract
the attention of policy makers, judging from the recent commands of the
minister of education that new basic technology nation wide let us hope that
was not policies as usual rhetoric”. In fact, vocational education and training
(VET) is an important determinant of income and wealth distribution as it
empowers the youths with skills to become productive and highly paid workers.
Increase in funding for vocational and technical education and expansion of
programmes for skills acquisition, employment creation and empowerment would
give the youths in the (elementary high school and higher institution dropouts)
the needed skills and hope but, the continues neglect of vocational/technical
education could keep the youths and able retired men in the economic pit they
have fallen over the years.