A NEW DAWN IN EDUCATION
The enactment of the Compulsory Education Law in China in 1986, skyrocketed the literacy rate from roughly 74% to over 96%, the effect of the adoption of such a law in Nigeria might be the dawn of a new Nigeria.
The advocacy for vocational education reform I believe will boost economic growth, promote employment and improve the quality of life for the Nigerian people.
A revamp of the vocational education institutions by adapting them to the online world will enable millions of rural dwellers to be able to receive an education they once could never get.
Knowledge transforms a poverty-stricken society into a fully modernized economy.
Investment in Education can be the cornerstone of our development as it will improve our capabilities, well-being, and quality of life.
There is a dare need to modernize education, improve our curriculum, deliver equal education to all, and develop strategies to enable and encourage lifelong learning.
THOUGHTS ON VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
Vocational Education and Training will be the matchstick to fire rural development and with government support, privatization of education, and the expansion of the internet, it is going to provide the tools for millions to rise into the middle class. Which in turn will trigger a wave in which the impoverished rural economy will flourish and growth in Nigeria and across the continent will be revitalized.
In our quest to build a Utopian society, I believe revamped and sustainable educational institutions will catalyze a boost in economic growth, promote employment and employability, improve people’s quality of life and address the lapses in the agricultural sector because this will close the gap in labor supply and demand.
THE WAY FORWARD
Curriculum Reconstruction: Our current system focuses too heavily on entry-level positions and not on the broader skills. We live in a constantly changing environment, that demands graduates that can think critically, apply knowledge, and adjust to new market conditions. Schools should have faculties that are industry-related and educators with industry experience.
Advocacy for Vocational Education: Students should embrace vocational schools and knowledge be viewed as superior, working with your head over your hands should be encouraged as that is what translates to leadership. I suggest a campaign to change society’s perspective, and an avenue is created for students to transition from vocational schools to higher institutions of learning.
Privatization of Institutions: For-profit institutions could be the answer to many of these challenges. Private institutions will be more open to partnering with businesses to develop and improve their curriculum. Constructing a well-rounded program will provide students with the knowledge they need to do more than entry-level work. The ability to apply this knowledge shows a broad set of skills that leads to raises and promotions, reflecting well on the institution.
