Nigeria gets National policy on science, technology education

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu has launched the National Policy on Science and Technology Education with its implementation guideline for repositioning and delivering quality Science and technology education in the country for global competitiveness.

Speaking on Thursday at the unveiling in Abuja, Adamu, represented by minister of state for education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba said Nigeria has been without a national policy to specifically direct and propel science and technology education in spite of incorporating science curricula in its education before independence.

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He said the absence of the roadmap for science and technology has slowed down the pace in Nigeria quest for technological achievement.

The Minister noted that the anomaly will be addressed with the policy, saying, “This development is not only significant, but also a landmark achievement by the federal government of Nigeria. It underscores the passion of FG to address the challenges facing the delivery of quality Science and technical education.”

Adamu hoped that stakeholders in the science and technology Education sub-sector would adhere to the policy and the implementation guidelines to ensure that the desired goal is achieved.

Earlier the Permanent Secretary Arc Sonny Echono said need for the national policy was informed by the observed gaps and poor synergy among stakeholders which has hindered the optimal development of the sub-sector

He said the policy is multi-sectoral and has a holistic approach to leadership and life skills training for pupils, students, teachers and youths in and out of school and institutional and human capacity building and linkage between schools and communities.

It also includes provision of required facilities and equipment on a systematic and sustainable basis, he said.

“The federal government’s utmost desire is for our youths to be rightly skilled for global competitiveness, self-reliance entrepreneurship, job creators and not job seekers. It is my strong belief that the implementation of this policy will address these issues.”

Presenting an overview of the policy, Prof Marshal Azeke of Edo University, Ekpoma said the document was formed as a result of poor unsatisfactory performance of students on WACE, NECO, NABTEB in science and technology subjects.

He said the policy sees the need to rebrand the Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) to attract talented and bright minds and to ensure that young people entering the workforce have the required skills and knowledge.