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 Covenant University (CU) has, for the second time, been rated as the best university in Nigeria.
According to Times Higher Education‘s 2024 rating, Covenant Unirersity, as a growing, dynamic vision-driven university, founded on a Christian mission ethos and committed to pioneering excellence at the cutting edge of learning, is among the top 1,000 universities in the world.
The 2024 ranking includes 1,906 universities across 108 countries and regions. The Ranking Website indicates that the grading was compiled based on their new World University Ranking (WUR) 3.0 methodology which includes 18 carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across five areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.
Analysis of the latest ranking on Thursday showed that the university based in Ota, Ogun State, is following on the ranking by the University of Ibadan (UI) as the second-best in the country, with the Federal University of Technology, Akure clinching the third position.
Currently ranked 801st university in the world, CU first gained prominence in 2018 after it emerged as the best university in Nigeria and the sixth-best university overall.
The ranking webpage explained that the site is trusted worldwide by students, teachers, governments, and industry experts, adding that the 2024 league table reveals how the global higher education landscape is shifting.
It stated thus; “This year’s ranking analysed more than 134 million citations across 16.5 million research publications and included survey responses from 68,402 scholars globally. Overall, we collected 411,789 data points from more than 2,673 institutions that submitted data”.
Meanwhile, also captured on the list of universities with the top rating in Nigeria are the University of Ilorin, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Afe Babalola University, and the University of Benin.
Others include the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Lagos State University, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Obafemi Awolowo University, and the University of Port Harcourt.
Available statistics showed that of the 15 top universities in the country, nine are located in the South West region, two in the South-South region, two in the South East region, one in the North Central zone, and one in the North West zone. Interestingly, the North-East zone was conspicuously missing from the list.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) have raised an alarm over fake sites for the ongoing printing of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Notification Slip which contains vital information such as the date, venue, and time of candidates’ examinations.
In a joint briefing by the NPF and JAMB recently in Abuja, candidates are enjoined to patronise only the approved sites by the JAMB, so as not be defrauded.
The Force Spokesman, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who signed a press release on behalf of the two Government agencies said: “The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) hereby bring to the attention of the public the ongoing printing of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Notification Slip which contains vital information such as the date, venue, and time of candidates’ examinations.
“Unfortunately, the emergence of several fake websites created by unscrupulous individuals with the intention of misleading candidates has been observed necessitating this joint press briefing.
“These fake sites are designed to deceive innocent candidates into providing personal details such as registration numbers, email addresses, and phone numbers. These details are then exploited for malicious purposes.
“Both JAMB and the Nigeria Police Force condemn these fraudulent activities and hereby reiterate the readiness to safeguard the interests of candidates and maintain the integrity of the examination process.
“We urge parents, guardians, and all stakeholders to ensure that candidates print their UTME Notification Slips only from the Board’s approved website: www.jamb.gov.ng. Candidates can print their slips from the comfort of their homes or visit any of the over 700 accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.
“It is important to note that we are familiar with the tactics employed by these fraudsters, especially during the annual assessment and admission exercises. We are actively sensitizing candidates and the public about these deceptive practices.
“Any candidate who visits these fake sites will definitely have unreliable information and thereby miss out in the forthcoming exams.’’
“Candidates are advised to print their UTME Notification Slips before Friday, 19th April, 2024, to access vital information about their examinations. Any website other than www.jamb.gov.ng offering UTME slip printing services is fake and designed to defraud candidates. Candidates should also beware of sites offering ‘live’ questions and answers, as they are false and deceptive, and accessing such materials is prohibited.
“The 2024 UTME is scheduled to commence on Friday, 19th April, and end on Monday, 29th April, 2024. We call on parents, guardians, and the general public to join hands in fostering a culture of integrity and compliance with established guidelines. Together, we can nurture a generation of upright and law-abiding leaders by discouraging fraudulent practices and desperation.
“Furthermore, JAMB is partnering with the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) to address online scam-related issues seamlessly. We assure candidates and the public of our firm dedication to ensuring a fair and transparent examination process.
“In addition, the Inspector General of Police has ordered the NPF-NCCC to go after scammers and fraudsters who engage in cyber related crimes and create phishing sites/portals, and cause them to face the full wrath of the law”.
The authorities of the Rivers State University (RSU),Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt says it will commence the First semester examinations.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Acting Registrar of the university, Mrs. I. B. S. Harry and made available to Dean’s and Heads of Departments, adding that the the examinations were earlier shifted to begin today from its initial date of last Monday to enable students who were yet to complete their registration and pay the necessary approved fees and give all students equal opportunity to participate in the examinations.
The statement reads “This is to inform all staff and students of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, that the First Semester Examination for the 2023/2024 academic session earlier scheduled to commence on Monday, 8th April, 2024, has been shifted to Monday, 15th April, 2024.”
“The change in date of the Examination is to enable students who are yet to pay stipulated fees/ charges and complete their course registration for the First Semester, to do so.”
All students in this category are advised to utilise the period to make necessary fee payments as well as course registration.”
By: Akujobi Amadi
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