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Anambra, Ekiti pioneer revolution in technical, vocational schools

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Anambra introduces automobile production in technical school curriculumAnambra and Ekiti states have evidently embraced the directive of the National Board for Technical and Vocational Education (NBTE) to have public and private

schools in the country set up technical and technological units for early inculcation of practical learning in our students.

[Photo: Anambra government introduces automobile production in technical school curriculum]

The Govs Willie Obiano and Ayo Fayose both of Anambra and Ekiti respectively have in pursuant of their love and zeal to revolutionize technical and vocational teaching and studies in the country have separately sponsored students teachers and some select stakeholders in the sector to practical training /lessons overseas especially Singapore and China.

This was disclosed in Awka yesterday by the facilitator of the overseas trip and consultant to both states, Mr Endi Ezengwa during the kick off events of the 5-day workshop at Melrose Hotels, Amawbia by the Anambra State Educational Investment Project in conjunction with Kiara College, Enugu, titled “Education For Employment: Bridging the Gap Between Educational Institutions and Construction Industry”.

Ezengwa, who is also the Chairman/Chief Executive of the Kiara College-a Nigerian-based consulting institution on Technical and Vocational Education with international affiliates and expertise pointed out that they have taken about 46 students, School Principals, head teachers, teachers, Commissioners and the Anambra Deputy Governor amongst others to such technical/vocational schools in Singapore last year for Anambra and this year for Ekiti respectively. He confirmed that what they saw instantly began to shape and reshape their psyche, vision and approach to education and learning.

He charged the states of the South East to embrace the programme to sharpen and move up the entrepreneurial ingenuity and spirit of the citizens from the area to the next level.

According to the Consultant, the dwindling oil revenue in the country has made now the ideal moment for the nation to go and tap its rich human resources as seen in the Asian Tiger nations. Nations like Singapore; he stated take pride in their well-trained human resources which have been attracting industrialized nations to the zone to establish their production factories.

He noted that Anambra, Ekiti and now Abia states have taken the initiative to drive the teaching and learning of technical and vocational courses to produce the required manpower that would drive the nation’s technological development in future, just like the Asian nations.

Ezengwa noted that, “…we have a lot of idle unskilled or semi-skilled youths in Nigeria who need to be trained, groomed and harvested to become revenue earners for the nation like the oil. We can do this through technical education. We therefore need to bridge the gap between educational institutions and the industries for production of marketable and employable graduates.

That most manufacturing outfit in the nation presently rejects under graduating student for practical training (SiWES) due largely to their poor training and know-how. That he had taken about 400 students to the Innoson Motors for experience in vehicle body building works, fabrication, welding and upholstery etc. and was about taking them to a construction company to learn experience in Electrical installations and maintenance, plumbing /pipe fittings, carpentry/joinery, furniture craft/machine woodworking and thereafter to a hospitality industry.

Gov Obiano who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Prof Kate Omenugha reaffirmed his commitment to training the manpower to drive the 4-pillars of his administration. While charging the teachers to remain proactive, he promised that the supply of equipment and renovation of all school workshops would be undertaken before the end of the year.

The workshop was undertaken by school principals, Head teachers, teachers of technical and vocational courses, I. Colleges and other high schools in the state and would end with certificates on Friday.

From Chuks Collins, Awka

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