NBTE proposes funding to drive skills development
This news was coined from the guardian0 8 December 2022
Prof. Idris Bugaje
The Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje has said that the board made a proposal for the provision of funding for National Occupational Standards (NOS) to drive skills development at the highest point.
Bugaje stated this in Abuja at an advocacy roundtable and media briefing of the Skills Care Development Organisation (SCDO) organised by the Sector Skills Councils (SSC) for education and social care.
He said that skills funding would come through the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) Acts, which had been submitted to the presidency, expressing hope that the Act would be accepted by 2023.
According to him, the proposal for funding might be a percentage of deduction from tax or other means as deemed fit by the president.
He explained that over the years, the NSQF was rolled out and the SSC were formed, adding that the Board would like SSC to be ready to champion the promotion of skills.
“We want this thing to be industry-driven and that’s why chairmanship and leadership of the SSC is largely from the private sector. And that’s how it is done globally. Today, skills have come to the centre stage of employment all over the world. In fact, the relevance of universities and polytechnics, conventional ones is diminishing by the day.
“And in the next 20 years, even universities overseas will be at a loss if there’s no paradigm shift to skills,’’ he said.
Bugaje added that the labour market is now looking at skills more than certificates, hence the need for government to give priority to skills development.
He said the country would be on the path of creating skills as well as making youths employable for the labour market if the Act received assent.
Also, Council Chairperson, Sector Skills Councils for Education, Dr Angela Ajala, said the curriculum was shifting into skills, and it is important to key into the new trend.
Ajala said schools are now involved in the teaching of skills through integration of NSQF into trade subjects in secondary schools.
“We are working with relevant government agencies to develop a policy and phase plan to enable the integration of trade subjects. The Federal Government approved the NSQF in 2013, now it’s private sector driven initiative and the aim is to see how we can begin to put together with our degrees, skills and competencies that will deliver the jobs we want to do.
“You will agree with me that curriculum is shifting to skills, especially entrepreneurial skills, as the present curriculum will not take future leaders we are grooming to their dream land. The present curriculum will not address market demands that are globally relevant, which will enable every child perform in the market place,” Ajala said.
