Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi state has called for a shift to a vocational education–based curriculum in the nation’s school system.
Nwifuru made the call on Wednesday in Abakaliki while flagging-off the distribution of teaching and learning materials for schools under the state’s Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB).
The governor said he views basic education system differently and would make a significant change if given the opportunity of heading its boards.
“I will re-write the curriculum to centre on vocational educational which would focus on skills enhancement for new educational innovations.
“Most of our graduates are not employable because they read courses in the university that guarantees no job for them.
“This is not their fault because no one mentored them that there are no jobs for graduates of the
courses they were studying,” he said.
He noted that the curriculum should be modelled to imbibe vocational skills in children at the age of seven.
“We used to practicalise our vocational skills (hand work) during our primary school days but what our pupils and students learn presently are mere tutorials.
“This cannot put food on our tables as Nigeria should go back to vocational education not just reading and writing,” he said.
Nwifuru said his intention to achieve this vision made him revolutionalise infrastrure in the state’s schools by modernly equipping them.
“I will personally monitor the utilsation of these materials in benefiting schools to complement the various monitoring teams for such purpose.
“I thank the executive secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for her assistance and love for the state and our own UBEB for its resilience and purposefulness,” he said.
The Executive Chairman of UBEB, Mrs Patience Ogodo said the materials inaugurated for distribution include: 1,410 seats, 46,545 English textbooks and 38, 817 mathematics textbooks.
“We also have 3, 675 exercise books, 3, 675 school bags, 3, 675 school sandals, 3, 675 pencils, 1,500 plastic chairs, 492 rubber mats, 2,499 computers among others.” she said.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba represented by Mr Isaac Ichenwa said the commission was honoured to be part of the instructional materials’ flag-off.
“This intervention aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu which places education at the centre of national development.”
Mrs Joy Odo, a Teacher from one of the benefiting schools thanked the state government for the items and pledged they would be judiciously utilised.
