Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi has advocated a shift to a vocational-based education curriculum in the nation’s school system.
Nwifuru made the call on Wednesday in Abakaliki, while launching the distribution of teaching and learning materials for schools under the state’s Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB).
He said that 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 education, which would focus on skill 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 said that the curriculum should be modelled to impart 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 table. 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 infrastructure in the state-owned schools by retrofitting them with modern equipment.
“I will personally monitor the utilisation of these materials in benefitting 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 launched for distribution included 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,” Ogodo said.
Also, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, represented by Mr Isaac Ichenwa, said the commission was honoured to be part of the launch of the instructional materials distribution in the state.
“This intervention aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which places education at the centre of national development,” Garba said.
A teacher from one of the benefitting schools, Mrs Rita Odimba, thanked the State Government for the items and pledged that they would be judiciously utilised.
