By Olakunle Olafioye
Shortly after the conclusion of her Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), 16-year-old Olamide was enrolled in a tailoring shop as an apprentice.
The long vacation preceding her admission into Senior Secondary School provided her with ample opportunity to focus on her training as she looked forward to a new phase of learning when she would have to combine academics with skill acquisition.
For two uninterrupted months, she concentrated on tailoring training, but when the schools reopened for the new academic year, her parents readjusted her training programme, with priority given to her academics.
Olamide would go to school from Mondays to Fridays, but upon returning from school on Fridays, she would report for her tailoring training. On Saturdays, the young girl would have full days’ training and only had Sunday as her free day. Mid-term breaks, non-festive public holidays and as well as end of the terms holidays, according to Mrs Taiwo, Olamide’s mother, were equally devoted to her tailoring training.
By the time she completed her Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, SSCE in 2022, Olamide was equally looking forward to concluding her apprenticeship programme, which she finally completed in December, 2023.
Now as she looks forward to securing admission into a university of her choice, Olamide who is now 19, is grateful to her parents, especially her father who insisted she must acquire a skill in addition to her academic pursuit.
“Initially it wasn’t something I wanted to do because I found it very difficult and stressful especially on Fridays when I had to close at school at 1:00 p.m and resume for my tailoring training by 2:30p.m. Besides, it deprived me of the opportunity of enjoying my leisure time unlike some of my colleagues at school.
“Sometimes, it pained to know that I was not having fun with my colleagues whenever they were reliving their experience of previous days at school. But in the long run I have come to realize that I now have an edge over some of my school mates who did not have the privilege of combining schooling with vocational training like me.”
Like Olamide, more and more students are combining their education with vocational skills at the behest of their parents.
Sadiq Bello is a Senior Secondary School 2 student. He was in Junior Secondary School 2 when his parents compelled him to take advantage of a barber who operated in their neighborhood to learn the skill. And after two years, Sadiq completed his apprenticeship and now earns money from the school.
The 18-year-old told Sunday Sun that his parents’ decision to have him learn the trade is now yielding rewards earlier than anticipated.
“When they informed me that I would have to learn barbing, it was really difficult for me to accept. Personally, I saw it as a ploy to stop me from playing football after school.
“However, I had no option, but to comply. My parents’ reason is that having academic qualifications alone is not enough to survive in Nigeria nowadays. Their plan is that skill could serve as an additional source of income to whatever I end up studying in future or in the worst case scenario could be a means of livelihood. Even now, I make some change (money) from it. People invite me for home service when I return from school and on weekends and pay for my services,” Sadiq disclosed.
A good number of graduates are also taking up the option of acquiring new skills owing to lack of immediate employment upon graduation. Abiodun Oseni is a graduate of International Relations who veered into tiling shortly after the mandatory one-year national service.
“As a matter of fact, I started learning tiling before my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, but I had to put it on hold for the service year. After my service year, I devoted almost a year to complete the learning.
“This is what I now fall back on as I look forward to securing a good job with my university certificate. Last year alone I did six different projects, which did go a long way to help me meet up with some financial obligations without having to depend on anybody. Very soon I will be starting my masters programme so that I will be able to boost my marketability in the labour market,” he said.
Parents who encourage their children of school age to combine academics with skill acquisition could have several reasons for such a decision. A very good number of these parents said they are motivated more by economic reasons than any other consideration.
Mr Josiah Balogun is a carpenter and father of four, two of whom are graduates.
In addition to their academic qualifications, Mr Balogun’ graduate-daughters are proficient in other vocations.
“One of them is a caterer while the second one is skilled in hairdressing. Their younger sister, who is an undergraduate, is a make-up artist. Their brother, who is the last child in the family and the only son, is understudying me at my workshop.
“He reports at my shop twice during the week and on Saturdays when he does not go to school. We all know the employment situation in this country. So, it is not advisable to put all one’s eggs in a basket. This is the reason I ensure all my children acquire one skill or the other in addition to their academic qualifications,” he said.
But while the trend continues to gain momentum, there is fear that the idea of encouraging students to combine education with vocational skills could constitute a major distraction to their studies.
Those who hold this view maintained that such practice prevents students from devoting enough time to their studies.
A school teacher, Mrs Mariam Owolabi, is of the opinion that students who combine academics with vocational skills always have the challenge of maintaining a balance between the two options, adding that their academics suffer more in most situations.
Her words: “My experience about students who combine academics with vocational skills shows that most of them end up tilting more towards the trade than their studies. And in some cases they end up abandoning school for the trade especially if they fail their examination and they are asked to repeat the class. So, instead of repeating the class some of them would rather opt out of school and focus on the craft.”
She, therefore, advised parents to allow their children to complete their secondary school education before dabbling into other training programmes.
“I am not opposed to the idea of encouraging students to acquire vocational skills. But my view is that it should be one thing at a time. Education requires adequate concentration; it should not be combined with any other serious business as vocational training.
“My interpretation of the whole issue is that the majority of people are in a hurry to see their children bring back returns to pay back their investment in them (children).
“That is why many of them (parents) would want to see their children of school age engage in other vocations that have the prospect of yielding quick returns,” she opined.