From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The National Business for Technical Education Board (NABTEB) has announced the process of selection/placement of students into the Federal Technical Colleges (FTCs) across the country.
Addressing journalists at the NABTEB headquarters in Benin during the selection/placement exercise, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Board, Muhammed Aminu Muhammed, said 24,074 sat for the examination out of the 29,670 that registered for it. He said 9,389 representing 39 percent scored 50 percent and above, 316 (1.31 percent) scored 70 percent and above while 14,685 (61) percent scored below 50 percent.
Mohammed noted that the results indicated that eight candidates (0.03 percent) achieved the highest rank. “As we strive for excellence in our programmes, it is crucial to identify and admit students who are best-suited to benefit from our training offerings. I look forward to a merit-based selection that attracts the most talented and motivated students,” the registrar stressed, and sued for the support and cooperation of stakeholders in scaling up subsequent enrollment by sensitising the populace on the benefits of technical and vocational education.
He identified inadequacy of qualified and experienced teachers, parent/peer group influence, inadequate number of vocational and skill centres and inadequate equipment to run some trades among others as challenges confronting the colleges. The NABTEB boss, however, recommended the implementation of pertinent legislation, development of pedagogical education for educators, funding, acquisition of advanced equipment and establishment of technical colleges to boost technical education.
In his speech, Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, represented by Director, Technology and Science Education, Dr. Muyibat Olodo, expressed hope that TVET is gaining more grounds with the free tuition initiative of the Federal Government for students of federal technical colleges.
He charged the administrators in the sector to implement government’s policies aimed at improving the children, colleges and the nation at large,despite the daunting challenges.
He noted that to improve access to technical education, the ministry had established two additional colleges in Enugu and Plateau states.
He said apart from increasing access to technical education through the establishment of FTCs and incentivisation of TVET, the ministry, through the efforts of the minister and his team has transformed the “DOTS” policy into the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).
He said this initiative focuses on six key priority areas, including advancing STEMM, strengthening TVET, reducing out-of-school children, promoting girl-child education, leveraging data digitalisation and enhancing the quality of education.
He said NESRI is aimed at shifting Nigeria from a resource-dependent to a knowledge-driven economy.
He added that efforts were ongoing to establish three new colleges to ensure the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory had one federal technical college each.