As part of efforts to revamp the 11 vocational and technical colleges in Anambra State, the state government, has sponsored 23 teachers, including principals, and administrators from the Ministry of Education, MoE, on a study-trip to Singapore.
South East Voice gathered that the training became necessary in a bid to enhance the four pillars of the administration of Governor Willie Obiano, through technical and vocational education.
Massivedevelopment
Speaking, some of the teachers and principals selected from the 11 colleges, expressed optimism that the visit would go a long way in bringing about massive development in the state, especially in the area of producing the needed and qualified manpower among the students, after the courses.
The Vice Principal (Administration), Nigerian Science and Technical College, Nnewi, Mrs. Uzoma Okeke said:
‘’When I get to Singapore, I expect to see how technical and vocational trainings are run according to best global practices. I hope to bring back the knowledge to improve our school system.
‘”Most importantly, I want to see how the institutions we are visiting run the theoretical and practical aspects of their curriculum, so that when we come back, we can introduce same in our schools.’’ Also, the Head, Department of Technical College, Umunze, Simon Nwafor, said: ‘’My expectation is for us to see and learn what we need to improve the technical and vocational educational system.
“We have had remarkable improvements since the present administration came in, especially in terms of human capacity building, staff welfare, provision of equipment needed to enhance teaching and learning in our colleges. So, with this study-trip, I feel it is another step ahead for better things to come.’’
Also, in the team are the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oby Okeke; Commissioner for Education, Professor Kate Omenugha; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Beatrice Okonkwo; Chairman, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, Nzeemeaka Olisa;
Chairman, Anambra State Post-Primary School Services Commission, ASPPSSC, Lady Joy Ulasi; Coordinator, Anambra State Economic Think-Tank, ANET, Mac Attasie; the Project Coordinator, Anambra State Education Programme Investment Project, ASEPIP, Charly Okeke as well as the Director, Higher Technical/Vocational Department, Dr. Laz Okafor, among others.
Speaking to South East Voice, the Commissioner for Education, Professor Omenugha, said that the visit was necessary to give the technical and vocational educational system a facelift.
‘’We are taking teachers of the Anambra State Technical College on a study-visit to Singapore. When Governor Obiano assumed office, we noticed that technical and vocational education were at the lowest ebb in the state. Among the 11 technical colleges, not even one had accreditation with the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE.
“So, we are now developing the needed human resources through the development of our technical colleges, so that the products of these colleges will be ready-made to take up employments. Again, we noticed that the standard of the students cannot be higher than that of their teachers, so we kicked-off serious human capacity building programmes for the teachers.
“We have done a lot of local trainings for them in the last one year, and now, we are taking them to Singapore to ensure best practices in technical and vocational education. The idea is that when these teachers are exposed to international best practices, they will be able to impact same to the students, thus producing graduates who are employable.’’
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Kiara College, Endi Ezengwa, whose firm consults on technical and vocational education for the state, said Singapore was chosen for the study-visit ‘’because it is a very good example in the world on Technical and Vocational Education, TVED.
They have working systems that are worth emulating all over the world. When we get to Singapore, we will visit the ITE Educational Services, an institution in-charge of technical and vocational educational services in Singapore.’’
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