Education Skills Curriculum Commences September – FG
BY NGOZI NWANKWO, ABUJA – The Federal Government has announced plans to kick start a fresh curriculum that would capture skills development in all levels of education in Nigeria by September 2024.
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who announced this at One-Day Pre-Validation Meeting of Stakeholders on the National Policy on Skills Development held in Abuja, said the policy is the first informative outing in the education sector and also marked one of the important legacies the government is delivering.
Mamman said that Nigerian Education Research and Development Council, NERDC, and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), have started working on the fresh skills curriculum, adding that it would be implemented by private and public schools both in states and at the federal level.
The minister said; “The idea will address learning crisis and issues of school dropout among young adults. We have been working on a national skills framework for the country in the last eight months.
“Introduction of skills in our education system has become a necessity. This will ensure that they learn some practical aptitude to help them earn a living,” he said.
The minister therefore tasked the agencies to come up with the skills curriculum that will be adopted and implemented in Primary, Basic, Secondary and tertiary education to help address learning crisis in Nigeria.
According to him; “The idea of this Pre-Validation Meeting is for the ministry to address the learning crisis much talked about and that level of education in Nigeria where people are being unable to read, write and comprehend things.
“Some of them after they finish primary and secondary education only 35 per cent of them transit to tertiary education. We have a bunch of 65 per cent of young boys and girls out there who are not in formal education, employment and do not have any form of trading.
“The result is what we are seeing in the looting during the recent protest. The only solution to address the skills gap is to expose the younger ones to skills,” he said.
Mamman therefore urged education players to approach this discussion with a renewed sense of purpose and a deep commitment to shaping a future where youths would be empowered to reach their full potential.
“Today, as we gather for this pre-validation meeting, I urge you to approach this discussion with a renewed sense of purpose and a deep commitment to shaping a future where our youth are empowered to reach their full potential.
“Your expertise, insights and collective wisdom will be instrumental in refining and strengthening this policy ensuring that it serves as a robust framework for skills development across Nigeria.
“Together, let us embark on this transformative journey, where education, skills and entrepreneurship converge to create a more prosperous and equitable society for all,” he said.
In his remarks, the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), Education Manager, Munamuzunga Sikaulu, said the policy would be a game changer to support skilling in young people.
Sikaulu also stressed the need for a comprehensive implementation plan and roles at the federal, state, local government and community levels.
Sikaulu said; “The skills curriculum will change the future of the children as well as that of the country. Let’s focus on the implementation strategy and how the policy can be a reality for our children,” he said.
