BOOSTING THE SOCIAL DEMAND FOR VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
Keywords:
Manpower, National Development, Social Demand, Technical Education, Vocational Education.Abstract
Vocational and Technical Education is a panacea to national development; unfortunately, this reality is not exactly so in Nigeria. The undue emphasis on general or liberal education at the expense of vocational and technical education (VTE) has over the years created some form of apathy which tends to reduce the social demands for VTE programmes, with its attendant effects on enrolment patterns. This paper examined the concept of Social demand for Vocational and Technical Education and highlighted the fundamental principles as well as the present state of vocational and technical education in Nigeria. Some strategies that could help boost the overall social demand for vocational education such as promoting incentives for VTE students, policy that allow VTE students partake in the proceeds of their projects, enlarging employment opportunities, staff training and retraining, adequate supply of electricity and other relevant equipment provision of occupational guidance and counselling services were discussed. Apart from the fore-going, it was suggested that government at all levels should intensify public awareness of the role of VTE to national development and economic wellbeing of individuals in order to attract more people especially school leavers and students to undertake training in VTE.
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