National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has unveiled over 60 new and reviewed curricula for polytechnics.
The National Occupational Standards (NOS) and Open, Distance and Flexible e-Learning (ODFeL) Courseware in Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) were also reviewed.
Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, disclosed this at the public presentation of the new and reviewed National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) curricula, NOS and ODFeL in Abuja on Tuesday.
Some of the new and reviewed curricula were ND/HND in Petroleum and Gas Processing Engineering, Transport, Planning and Management, Strategic Communication and Media Studies, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, and Organic Agricultural Technology.
Also, Homeland Security, Articulated Vehicle Driving, Construction Equipment Operation, and Traditional and Herbal Hygiene were part of the new and reviewed NOS for skill training.
Bugaje stated that the curricula would provide general guide to institutions in determining the body of knowledge and skills, while also addressing the employability issues in the country.
He pointed out that the number of developed regulatory instruments represented about 15 per cent of the total offer, adding that the board is committed to developing more curricula that would meet national and international standards.
Bugaje disclosed that the board has a total of 350 curricula, NOS and ODFEL course-ware in the Nigerian TVET system.
'The notable quality of these curricula is that they are industry-driven; developed or reviewed with the full participation of the Nigerian industries to address the employability problem that are often encountered by our diplomats upon graduation", he added.
He said that the National Council on Establishment (NCE) at its last meeting in Yola, approved the inclusion of some of the TVET courses into the scheme of service of the Federation, particularly the National Innovation Diploma (NID).
With the changes, he pointed out that two African countries had indicated interest in the quality of Nigeria's educational system, as Rwanda signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) while Morocco is in the process of doing so.
He pleaded with stakeholders and the government to support tertiary institutions by funding the Skills Sector Council (SSC) to boost skills agenda.
On his part, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu said the recent development is a departure from the old practice where subject experts developed or reviewed curricula without considering the expectations of employers of labour.
Adamu, who was represented by the Director of Polytechnic Education and Allied Institutions, Dr Ejeh Usman, noted that the curricula would impact fresh ideas in the delivery and learning processes.
”Some of the NOS that were reviewed were first developed in 1963 with the support of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Since then, there was no effort to review them,” he added.
He maintained that curricula were supposed to be reviewed every five years but some were reviewed after 20 years.
The minister promised to support NBTE with the necessary funding, instructional materials and facilities, with a view to provide the enabling environment for TVET products to contribute to Nigeria's technological advancement.
Chairman of Council of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology (COHEADS) Dr Samuel Kalagbor promised to facilitate the full implementation of the new and reviewed curricula and expand the frontier of students training.
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