In an effort to boost the competence of federal technical college teachers throughout the nation, the federal government has partnered with the World Bank to equip them with modern and innovative skills that will enable students to be digitally literate. This was announced by Mr. Andrew David Adejo, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, at the opening of a workshop on creating a Framework for the in-service training of teachers and instructors in the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). He underscored the need to strengthen technical schools in order to boost the availability of skilled and motivated technical professors and instructors.
The concept for the workshop, as expressed by Mr. Adejo through the Director of Technology and Science Education, Mrs. Grace Jakko, was driven by the comprehension that the economy and society of the 21st century are more radical for skills development. Technical and Vocational Education area, in particular, stands to benefit significantly from the relevance this brings. He also argued that Nigeria’s economic sustainability depended on its capacity to train its workforce in line with the emerging globalization trends, particularly regarding the transferable skills needed in the country’s official and informal sectors.
It is crucial to have instructors with relevant technical skills.
All federal technical educators at the 27 technical schools around the federation will be trained and catalogued as part of this initiative. In addition, the IDEAS Project’s five participating states’ teaching staff will also be engaged. Mrs. Blessing Ehi Ogwu, the IDEAS Project’s national coordinator, said that the goal is to provide a systematic approach to educating technical instructors in Nigeria. Mrs. Ogwu, therefore, expressed optimism that the participants’ combined knowledge and experience would lead to the development of a structure that would better equip technical instructors to face the problems of the future.
According to her, the project is focused on training around 5000 individuals in technical skills to fulfil market demand, while she emphasized the importance of technical education in creating our society’s future. In her opinion, it is crucial to have instructors with the proper training to teach students relevant technical skills. Although establishing a training program for technical instructors may seem like a simple effort, she stressed the need for thorough preparation, coordination, and cooperation among many stakeholders.
38 technical colleges have access to fully functional workshops.
Dr. Mistura Rufai, a World Bank consultant, said that of the total $200 million budgeted for the IDEAS Project, $25 million to $30 million would be allocated specifically to educating and preparing teachers in Nigeria. The initiative is intended for TVET teachers across Nigeria, regardless of whether it is being implemented in the state. According to Dr Rufai, the project will cover all six geopolitical zones as well as all of the states in Nigeria.
World Bank consultant said that 38 technical colleges all around the nation now have access to fully functional workshops. Thus, she identified this as one of the advancements that will be used to its full potential for the implementation of the project. These schools will be utilized as teacher training facilities, as well as to increase the capacity of tertiary institutions that presently provide teacher education. Improvements to these colleges and universities that provide teacher education are also part of the project’s blueprint.
Students will be able to graduate with essential market skills.
Dr. Rufai assured that the government is collaborating with the institution to guarantee that all installed technology is modern-developed and market relevant. She went on to say that the ultimate goal is to provide educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to educate students effectively. Through this, students will be able to graduate with essential market competencies. A facilitator at the training named Ben Akpan explained that the World Bank’s end purpose is to have the federal government assume responsibility for the project when they have learned the necessary skills.
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