TASUED don recommends 5 years degree programme to accommodate vocational training
Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
The Pioneer Provost of Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu and Professor of Programme Evaluation, Prof. Abiodun Adebowale Ojo, has advocated for a 5-year degree program.
He gave this recommendation recently while delivering the 19th Inaugural Lectures of the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, with the theme “Lamentations of Nigeria University Graduates: Education Evaluation On Rescue Mission”
Prof. Ojo,who is also the Chairman, Governing Council, Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa recommended that the four year Degree programmes should be extended to 5 years to make the fifth year cater for entrepreneurial and vocational courses.
According to the Inaugural Lecturer, the curriculum should be designed in such a way that the two programmes would run concurrently.
Prof Abiodun stated that undergraduates needed to be counselled on the advantages inherent in enterprenurship and vocation.
He further admonished Educational Planners and Curriculum Developers to design programmes that would expose students to all the vocations initially and thereafter allow them to pick two of their choice in which they would specialise.
The one time Director of Centre for Part time and External Programmes (CEPEP) also suggested that in the last three sessions, the students should be attached to practitioners for practicals which should run for three months yearly, most especially during long vacations, when students have free time.
Ojo also hinted that students should be encouraged to undergo courses in basic accounting and the development of small-scale businesses. The merit of this is to prepare graduates for self-employment instead of chasing the elusive white-collar job after graduation.
He explained that graduates would have two certificates, a Bachelor’s Degree and the a Diploma certificate in a vocation such students had been trained
He however, stated that the Diploma courses should be handled by practicing artisans, who have vast experience.
The Programme Evaluation Expert averred that the Federal Government intervention in the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETfund should as a matter of urgency fund the establishment of qualitative vocational Centres in Tertiary Institutions by setting aside 50% of the annual intervention fund in building and equipping vocational workshops in institution of higher learnings, to promote qualitative practical vocational training for students.
Ojo furthermore suggested that both the Federal and State Governments should revisit the concept of farm settlements like the ones established by the Western Region Government in the first Republic in solving the menace of unemployment.
“To make such a program enticing to the present youths, particularly graduates, the atmosphere must include not only descent accommodation but the settlement should also be planned to be multipurpose in terms of vocations which include poultry, fishery, boreholes, feed mills, shoe making, furniture, saloon, etc. With social facilities for sports, socials ,solar energy, security posts, clinic, government experts/consultants, it would develop to communities made up of self-reliant individuals”, he added.
To encourage fresh graduate settlers to go into business, the Bank of Industry should as a matter of urgency be willing to give take-off loans with very low-interest rates to this category of people.
He stressed that by embracing vocational training the Government can stop the drain of foreign exchange used in paying expatriate artisans, who should not have been allowed in the first instance if our technical colleges and polytechnic had produced these artisans, this training will invariably enhance the development of the nation.
On the issue of the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), under the Industrial Training Fund(ITF), he admonished the stakeholders to enforce the objectives of setting up SIWES, he thereafter called for the establishment of a Bureau of Graduate Self Sustenance.
In attendance at the event were the Ogun State Head of Service, Mr. K. P. Fagboun; the erstwhile Head of Service, Ogun State, Elder Sola Adeyemi; the immediate past Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology and the former Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, the Gbegande of Ososa, Oba(Dr) Toye Alatishe.
Others are former Provost, Ogun State College of Education, Ijagun, Dr. Z. O. Odumosu; the Provost, Sikiru Adetona College of Education, Science and Technology, Omu-Ijebu, Dr. Lukman Kiadese; Rector, Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa, Dr. Gbade Akinteye among others.
