Education
By Chinyere Nwachukwu
Lagos, May 28, 2018 (NAN) Mr Sonny Echono, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, has stressed the need for a re-orientation of the public on the roles of technical and vocational education in nation building.
Echono made this call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
According to him, this branch of education must be given the necessary attention in order to attract the right people needed to drive the country’s economy.
He said the poor public perception about technical and vocational education was largely responsible for the dearth of skilled personnel in key professions that were vital to the Nigeria’s technological advancement.
“Yes, parents may be part of the problem, but it is only natural that public perception too can have an impact on the development.
“It is generally a societal problem that has to do with the value system.
“When the society begins to see certification as a meal ticket, then there is a problem.
“If we begin to classify roles and duties based on factors other than performance, that is, skills that you have, then there is the tendency for people to begin to look the easy way out.
“Naturally, in every society, people will like to do the least job for the highest pay,’’ Echono said.
He said that people must also be able to create value in whatever they do.
“There must be fulfillment in whatever one chooses to do.
“For anyone to have that fulfillment and job satisfaction, that person must be able to get involved in creative things or practical works’’.
According to him, there is an urgent need for the restoration of values generally in the country. (NAN)
CCN/AIB/YEMI
Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Yemi Idris-Aduloju