By Stephen Adeleye.
The Kogi Government on Friday said it had concluded plans to provide more tools and other materials for Home Economics centres, to enhance and promote vocational skills acquisition among the youth of the state.
Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology (MOEST), disclosed this in Lokoja at the closing ceremony of a three-week ”State Summer Vocational Camp” for adolescents in the state.
The summer vocational camp, inaugurated on Aug. 19, was organised by (MOEST) in collaboration with Chateko Vocational Institute of Ladi Memorial Foundation (LMF).
Mr Eric Aina, the Permanent Secretary, who declared the training closed on behalf of the commissioner, told journalists that the ministry was putting up plan to provide more tools for Home Economics (HE) centres across the state.
According to him, at least three HE centres in each local government area would be adequately equipped to enhance our skills acquisition program for youths especially teenagers across the state.
”It has been the aim of the MOEST and with focus that balanced education should be given to our students.
”Balance education in the sense that focus won’t be only on abstract and theoretical aspect of education, but more attention is being giving to technical and vocational education.
”In that wise, students are being giving the opportunity to acquire skills in garment making, cooking, agriculture like poultry, fish farming, animal husbandry, knitting and other vocational skills.
”The purpose for this skills acquisition are two objectives; commercial and personal proficiency use. The ministry has strong plan to sustain this skills acquisition program.
”For instance in Asian country like Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, where skills acquisition is being given focus in their educational system.
”MOEST is focusing and taking feat on area whereby before the completion of secondary school certificate, students would have acquired skills.
”As they are writing their final exam in NECO/WAEC, they will also register for NABTEB to test their competence in their chosen skills. This basis is what is taking as the focus of balanced education.
”We are intensifying effort because we have the assurance of NABTEB to collaborate with the ministry, and I am optimistic we are going to succeed,” Aina said.
He added that a total of 49 students registered in two centres for the summer vocational skills; ten students at LMF centre at phase one, while the HE centre at Saint Peter primary school, Felele, had 39 registered students.
He urged all school principals to cooperate with the ministry in her effort to introducing, trade and skills acquisition into school curriculum.
He, therefore, implored the trainees not to lose sight but to continue to practice whatever thing they had learnt and add more values to their acquired skills and the society at large.
”On behalf of the commissioner, we are expressing our gratitude to Ladi Memorial Foundation (LMF), which has given full support to the ministry to have undertaken this training,” Aina said.
He noted that the exercise was being brought to a close to enable the participating students to have time to get themselves prapared for school resumption on Sept. 9.
He stressed that First Time for 2019/2020 Academic Session would commence on Monday Sept. 9, 2019, adding that full academic activities and monitoring of resumption by the ministry would begin same day.
In her vote of thanks, Mrs Olabisi Oshagbemi, Director, Inclusive and Non-Formal Education (INFE), thanked the commissioner for the program, saying what the students had learnt would benefit them now and in the future.
While thanking the instructors for impacting knowledge and skills to the life of the students, she advised the trainees to practice the skills they had learnt.
One of the trainees, Mr. David Osikoya, thanked the ministry for the program, saying he had learnt many things on garment making in the course of the training.
Another trainee, Miss Juliet Gabriel, said: ”we learnt a lot on how to sew bags, apron, pyjamas and other things; the three weeks has really been a great experience”.
They both advised other students to make use of their time wisely and learn a skill that could sustain them in life, rather than staying idle during holidays.
One of the instructors, Mrs Esther Ezekiel, said the students have really been wonderful and skillful at what they do, while advising the ministry to sustain the program, motivate students and provide the necessary materials for training.
