Agora Policy: How FG can harness potential of vocational, technical training in Nigeria

Agora Policy, an Abuja-based think tank, has provided a framework that should be adopted in Nigeria’s educational system to better deliver technical and vocational skills.

In its latest report on Wednesday, the think tank highlighted ways for improved mainstreaming of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in the country.

Listing the United Kingdom and Germany as countries that have harnessed vocational training and skills, Agora Policy said “apprenticeship” was a major form of acquiring skills.

To ensure replicated results in Nigeria, according to the firm, TVET must be “integrated into the heart of the educational system rather than as a poor alternative for those who are less academic-minded”.

“TVET policy and governance framework must be clearly articulated and the role of every actor clearly defined,” the company said.

“Qualifications must be prestigious enough to attract up-takers and must be convertible across pathways allowing for employment and further education/training.

“Training must be of high quality and meet employers’ needs. Therefore, industries and businesses must be incentivised and allowed to play a lead role in designing the framework and standards for training along occupational lines.

“Building a robust, dynamic, and market-oriented TVET education requires many actors operating at different levels.”

Agora Policy also advised the government to provide “real incentives” for students to embrace TVET.

“Perhaps, there is no better way to do it in the first instance than to make such education free whether it is obtained through the technical college or the vocational enterprise institutions (VEIs) and innovation enterprise institutions (IEIs),” the organisation added.

“Government should provide real incentives to the industries and businesses to play a lead role in designing the framework and standards for the new TVET education system in the country.

“[The] TVET education should be made free initially to encourage more students.”

‘TECHNICAL TRAINING IN NIGERIA CHAOTIC’ 

Commenting on the state of vocational education, the report said one of the problems associated with TVET in Nigeria is that it is “chaotic”.

As a result, the think tank called for the launch of a national advocacy campaign to promote TVET education in the nation.

“Current system for delivering TVET education in the country is chaotic and therefore incapable of delivering on the desired results,” Agora Policy said.

“A new framework needs to be created to streamline the roles of the various actors and still allow for central coordination.

“The National Board for Technical Education (NBET) should be changed to National Board for Apprenticeship and Skills to mainstream apprenticeship training as part of the overall TVET education and bring it under one roof.

“A baseline assessment of the existing training providers needs to be undertaken to identify gaps in relation to required industry standards and to ensure that interventions are tailored accordingly.

“Reform of basic education to improve quality needs to be prioritised to realise the potentials of TVET education.”