Abstract
The major thrust of technical and vocational education (TVE) worldwide is to address issues of youth unemployment, poverty and international competitiveness in skills development towards current and projected opportunities and challenges. The paper posits that despite the evidence of numerous reforms in vocational and technical education programs over the years, they still remain greatly detested by students and parents in Nigeria as evidenced in low enrolment when compared with sciences, engineering, banking and finance, and medicine just to mention but a few. This may be because of lack of understanding of the importance, scope and content of the program or lack of occupational information. Some wrongly view technical and vocational education programs as education for the handicapped or education for those who cannot cope with the sciences and social sciences. This paper therefore, examines the factors responsible for low enrolment into technical and vocational education programs, its implications for Nigeria and suggests how career education and effective occupational information service can help to stem this trend. It is recommended that career education should be used to create the necessary career awareness and occupation information made readily to students to enable them make informed career choices.
Highlights
Education has from inception been recognized as a veritable means of progress for nations and individuals
The paper posits that despite the evidence of numerous reforms in vocational and technical education programs over the years, they still remain greatly detested by students and parents in Nigeria as evidenced in low enrolment when compared with sciences, engineering, banking and finance, and medicine just to mention but a few
It is recommended that career education should be used to create the necessary career awareness and occupation information made readily to students to enable them make informed career choices
Summary
Education has from inception been recognized as a veritable means of progress for nations and individuals. It is the concern of this paper that enrolment into technical and vocational programs may be low not because Nigerian youths are lazy nor do not want to use their hands to work It may be because many Nigerians do not fully understand the benefits, scope and content of the program and lack of vocational/career education and occupation information services to students while in or out of schools. It is important to view some trend in graduate out-turn from two types of institutions in Nigeria namely; polytechnics (which is oriented towards the preparation of students for vocational and technical programs) and universities. The technical schools find it hard to attract good students because there is a strong misconception that they are reserved for the never-to- do-wells and other negative by-products Those admitted because they cannot find other things to do barely pass through the program because of poor aptitude and attitude.
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