Nigerians have expressed that the Federal Government’s plan to include vocational skills such as plumbing and hairstyling into the country’s educational curriculum is long overdue.
Many believe these skills should have been integrated years ago to better prepare students for the workforce.
This reaction follows the Federal Government’s introduction of 15 new vocational trades into the Basic Education curriculum, a move aimed at enhancing the employability of graduates from primary and junior secondary schools.
The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, announced the initiative during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Monday, stating that the new curriculum would be implemented starting January 2025.
On social media, Nigerians have voiced both their approval and frustration, urging the government to act quickly on the implementation of the skills in Nigeria’s curriculum.
While they commend the development, many feel it has come much later than it should have.
Reacting on Facebook, a user @ Ken Cross Omafuru wrote, This programme is long overdue and if the FG is coming up with this idea, is going to be a fantastic idea, because with this program in our secondary and tertiary institution Nigeria youths can create jobs for themselves and thus contribute to the growth and development of our country. Idea rule the world.”
Another user, Uduebho Osegiegbefumhen Cyril, added, “It’s a welcome development, but it’s long overdue.”
Another Facebook user, @Julius Adeyeni Adefioye shared, “I totally support it for all basic 7-9 and senior classes in Nigeria. This is what has been waiting for in Nigeria’s educational system for a long time.”
@Adeniyi Adewumi opined, “I wholeheartedly support this idea. It will help build up the skills of the students and will in a long run help in reducing rates of unemployment in the country.”
“It’s a good idea. The Nigerian school curriculum should be redesigned to accommodate more practical learning, it helps a lot. I remembered that in our primary school days, we were doing “HANDWORK” where we used our hands to create things. Many of us still live with those skills till today”, @Oghenero S Ikutegbe wrote.
