The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has introduced a Dual Education System Programme for students in its model school.
It will commence this academic session in September.
The director-general of the Fund, Dr Afiz Oluewatoyin Ogun, made the disclosure while on the tour of ITF training centres in Jos, the Plateau state capital.
He said, “In this system, normal classroom activities for students of ITF schools will end by 1:30 p.m., after which the students will go home. Later, our buses will pick them up and take them to a separate facility known as the ITF Model School Skills Academy.
“At the academy, the students will be trained in various vocational fields, including tailoring and fashion design, embroidery, welding (both manual and laser), culinary skills, and ICT. So, we’re starting with at least five or six trade areas,” he said.
He also explained that the students will spend two hours at the academy on weekdays and three hours on weekends and holidays.
This programme will run for two years, after which they will sit for internationally recognised certification exams. ”
Ogun added that despite the students’ age, they will receive certifications that qualify them to work anywhere in the world, and the programme is structured to accommodate their parents.
“For students who show determination and resilience, businesses will be incubated for them before they even gain university admission. Our goal is for them to become self-reliant and capable of sponsoring themselves through higher education,” the DG said.
The DG maintained that students and interested parents will also receive entrepreneurship training. We will continue to monitor and support their progress throughout the programme’, he added.
