The Edo State Government reiterated its dedication to reforming technical and vocational education in the state, noting that it has teamed up with UNICEF and other partners to provide digital learning to technical and vocational institutions all around the state.
At the two-day Edo State Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Conference, which was held in Benin City with the theme “How Can State and Non-State Actors Promote Demand-Driven Quality TVET,” the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, revealed this in her welcome address.
The Commissioner stated that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led state government is taking critical steps to restructure the TVET sub-sector in Edo State state, reassuring that the development of the 20 new TVET schools across the state18 local councils will begin this year.
According to her, “We have introduced digital learning into our TVET schools in partnership with UNICEF and Nigerian Learning Passport. We are using two schools as a pilot phase, namely Benin Technical College and Usugbenu Technical College, Irrua. The goal is to ensure that all our TVET students are digitally literate.
“We have identified roughly 17 industries, ranging from the oil and gas to the creative industries, among others, that we want to prepare our young people for as part of the continuing reforms of our TVET sub-sector by our board. The focus will be on practical applications and skills moving ahead.
“Skills can take many different shapes. According to the government, c onstruction of 20 new TVET schools that will be spread across the state’s 18 Local Administration Areas will begin this year.
“Our board of TVET is serious about working with our master artisans and the private sector to start formalizing the non-formal apprenticeship sector,” she noted. It will be good for our young people if we can legalize our informal sector.
Oviawe continued, “Last year, 18 TVET teachers and staff of the TVET board traveled to Germany for training as the training would continue for all others in the education sector to enable them to deliver the best to the children in the state.
“We will unveil a N300m innovation grant for the South-South area this Thursday under the IDEAS program of the World Bank and Federal Ministry of Education. Small businesses in the digital sector are the focus of this innovation grant, which aims to prepare our future workforce.
In his message of goodwill, Dr. Tunde Adekola, Senior Education Specialist at the World Bank, congratulated the Edo State Government, GIZ-SKYE, and other partners for the conference, assuring the support of the World Bank in advancing technical and vocational education in the state.
He further added, ” World Bank is ready to collaborate with the government of Edo State, relevant partners, and stakeholders to enhance TVET in Nigeria and Edo State. In order to make sure that our TVET system is successful, we must work with both the formal and informal sectors. TVET will be improved if state actors collaborate with development partners.