From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged the government and relevant stakeholders in the educational sector to revamp vocational education and skills training in order to mitigate the nation’s unemployment challenge.
Kalu stressed the need to reposition carpentry, catering and other vocational skills in secondary school’s curriculum as a means of making youths become self-reliant.
The former Governor of Abia State made the call on Saturday during the graduation/award ceremony of BRITARCH SCHOOLS , Abuja, where he was a guest of honour.
Speaking with Journalists after the event Kalu said: “Nigerians should expect vibrant educational policies from the Senate which will improve our nation’s educational system.
“Skills acquisition must be a major focus in our nation’s basic educational system. The Government should also focus on vocational skill acquisition in our educational institutions as a means of solving the nation’s unemployment challenge.
“Government should bring back carpentry, catering and other vocations into our schools because these are skills that move the society forward. Schools should also be able to produce artisans asides career graduates.”
Speaking in the same vein, the Director, BRITARCH SCHOOLS, Abuja Mrs. Chichi Philips Orioha, also solicited the need for vocational education and skills training .
Orioha said: “Nigeria as a nation has security and economic challenges, but yet how many children study education in our universities?
“Everybody wants white collar jobs, but no one wants to study vocational/technical education which is one of the immediate needs in the country today.
“As a school, we have guided our children towards skill acquisition. It’s good to become a doctor, barrister and other professional careers, but at the same time, one should go out and explore other areas of skill.
We have identified those niche areas that are lacking in the Nigerian system and imparted those skills in our children.
“We have the belief that the sky is the starting point for these young ones. We have given them sufficient principles to guide them through life.”
Other notable personalities that graced the academic event included a former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana; the Member Representing Bende Federal Constituency, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Ambassador E.O. Philips Chairman Britarch Schools, Humphrey Aba a Former Federal Minister amongst many others.
