International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue V, May 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

The Issues, Challenges and Strategies to Strengthen Technical, Vocational Education and Training in Nigeria.

Sylvester Chukwutem Onwusa (PhD)
Department of Technology and Vocational Education
Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

Abstract
Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) could be a veritable instrument for national economic development in Nigeria. The growing awareness of the need to adapt TVET to meet the rapid global economic requirement is absolutely essential. Thus, TVET is a mechanism that could help for improving the quality of workforce by humanizing their mobility, adaptability and productivity. TVET indirectly could contributes to the enhancement of firms’ competitiveness in the globalized world. This is so because one of the most important features of TVET is its orientation towards the world of work and the emphasis of its curriculum on the acquisition of employable skills. Unfortunately, it is sadly to note that, after many years of existence of Nigeria as nation is seriously threatened with unemployment, poverty, social and economic instability, insecurity, corruption, insurgents, banditry, underdevelopment and unscrupulous leadership amongst others. Nigeria will continually remain a technologically backward and dependent nation if this negative attitudes and ugly trends are not reversed. In order to bring lasting solution to these dreadful and horrible situation in Nigeria. It is important that government should focus on acquisition of employable skills for the youths so as to divert there attention from these social vices that have bedevil the nation. Thus, it is absolutely essential to examine the issues, challenges and strategies to strengthen TVET in Nigeria. It was concluded amongst others, that Nigeria government should look inward and recognize the fact that TVET as the bedrock for meaningfully technological growth and national development. It was recommended that the government, stakeholders, policy makers and TVET providers in Nigeria should focus on TVET quality assurance best practices that have worked in advanced countries around the world. Also the government should adequately fund, plan, implement, and manage TVET programmes in technical institutions in Nigeria. Finally there should be a synergy between the schools-industry linkages where students are trained, must be a replica of the environment in which he/she must subsequently work.4

Keyword: Issues, Challenges, Strategies, Strengthen, Technical Vocational Education and Training.

Introduction
Education is a major instrument for economic and social development of any nation. The investment in education is considered as investment in human capital development and this could increase labour productivity of a country. Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is one of the known and authentic process by which excellence, conversant, information literate and knowledgeable workers are prepared, trained or retrained worldwide. According to Park (2005), TVET is the systematic and orderly transmission of knowledge, skills and values to develop a workforce that could enhance productivity and sustain competitiveness in the global economy. UNESCO and ILO (2002) described TVET as an all-encompassing term referring to those aspects of the educational process comprising:- general