The Nigerian Skill Curriculum

The Nigerian Skill Curriculum is expected to be launched in September 2024. It is designed as a comprehensive educational initiative to enhance vocational and technical training nationwide. The curriculum will incorporate practical skills in various trades, including technology, agriculture, manufacturing, and services. It aims to align with industry needs and promote employability.

It is also intended to be integrated into secondary and post-secondary education systems, providing students with hands-on experience and industry-relevant skills alongside traditional academic subjects. The curriculum has been developed in collaboration with industry experts and employers to ensure relevance. The partnership aims to bridge the gap between education and the job market.

There is also a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship, encouraging students to develop business skills and start their ventures, which can contribute to economic growth. The launch will accompany a detailed implementation strategy involving teacher training, developing educational materials, and establishing evaluation frameworks to monitor progress and outcomes.

Key skills such as digital literacy, problem-solving, and collaboration will be integrated to ensure students are equipped for the modern workforce. There will be an increased focus on vocational and technical training to enhance job readiness and practical skills.

According to the Federal Ministry of Education, a stronger emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects will better prepare students for high-demand careers. The curriculum aims to move away from rote learning towards a more competency-based approach, focusing on practical skills and critical thinking.

Experts have also argued that the curriculum will promote inclusivity, cater to diverse learning needs, and ensure equitable access to quality education.

In a world undergoing multiple transitions, technical and vocational education and training has a critical role to play in the recovery and transformation of education systems and labour markets worldwide. In light of this, we welcome the federal government’s recent announcement to introduce skills development into the school curriculum, particularly for primary and secondary schools. We think that this move is long overdue and will go a long way toward addressing the issue of unemployment in our country.

For too long, our education system has been focused solely on academic qualifications, neglecting vocational and technical skills. This has resulted in many young people not finding jobs despite having degrees and other academic qualifications.

Including skills development in the school, curriculum will not only help young people acquire practical skills that are in demand in the job market, but it will also help bridge the gap between education and the world of work. This will enable the young people to become job creators rather than job seekers.

However, while we welcome this move by the government, we cannot help but ask what has happened to all the Government Technical Colleges scattered across the country. These colleges were established for the sole purpose of developing vocational skills among the nation’s youth brackets.

Technical colleges in Nigeria play a vital role in training technicians for various industries and imparting essential technical skills to the youth. These institutions aim to promote self-employment, job creation, and technological advancement. Technical schools, also known as technical colleges or institutes, offer educational programmes that prepare students for specific trades or careers.

Sadly, many of these colleges have been neglected over the years, and their facilities have fallen into disrepair. There are 132 Technical Colleges in Nigeria, consisting of 19 Federal Technical Colleges, 110 State Technical Colleges, and three Private Technical Colleges. The government needs to take urgent steps to revive these colleges and equip them with modern facilities and equipment to deliver quality training to our young people.

In the past, the vocational education and training sector was the backbone of national development and industrialisation, as manufacturing, hospitality, engineering, and other sectors had their foundation in vocational skills. For vocational skills to play a successful role in national development, it must be “effectively organised, managed and regulated.

A standard policy would put Nigeria on the global vocational map and effectively tackle the increasing unemployment rate, poverty, and other social vices.

We applaud the government’s decision to include skills development in the school curriculum, and we urge them to take immediate action to revive the Government Technical Colleges. By doing so, we will be creating a workforce that is not only academically qualified but also skilled and ready to contribute to the development of our country.