CHALLENGES OF TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATIONAND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION FOR PRODUCTIVITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

CHALLENGES OF TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATIONAND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION FOR PRODUCTIVITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Technical and Vocational Education education plays a vital role in human resource development of the country by creating skilled manpower, enhancing industrial productivity and improving the quality of life. Okorie (2000) asserted that the world of today is advancing daily in technology. The daily changes in technology therefore calls for the need to pay attention to Technical and Vocational EducationColleges.

Technical and Vocational Educationeducation are those aspects of educational process involved in addition to general education, the study of technologies and related sciences and the acquisition of practical skills, attitudes, understanding and knowledge relating to occupations in various sectors of economic and social life (FGN, 2004). According to Okorie (2000) there are complexities surrounding social political and economic life of mankind. These complexities have necessitated a form of education that will meet the challenges and the changing complexities of technology.

Some of the trades found in Technical and Vocational Educationcolleges are electrical installation and maintenance practice, radio and television repair works, mechanical craft practice, fabrication and welding, auto mechanics, plumbing and pipe fitting, carpentry and joinery as well as building trades. The objectives and goals of the Technical and Vocational EducationColleges are tailored towards skill acquisition for employment. Technical and Vocational EducationColleges are also recognized as a good base for the training of skilled manpower that can be effectively utilized to contribute to the technological excellence and economic reliance of the nation. Ezeji (1988) also stressed the importance of skill acquisition in national growth. He emphatically contended that Nigeria’s social and economic problems would be drastically reduced if people were given adequate vocational training in skills. This could be achieved through administrative means.

Administrative process is the act of piloting the affairs of the school system with the sole aim of achieving the set educational objective of the school as well as the society. It is a process which constantly involves decision making, organizing, communicating, stimulating, coordinating and evaluation. It is the use of human and material resources to achieve desired goals and objective of the school (Igbo, 2002). These administration functions compounded with problems.

CHALLENGES OF TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATIONAND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION FOR PRODUCTIVITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA