The member representing Ibadan North Constituency II in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Adebayo Babajide Gabriel, has called on the Oyo State Government to integrate technical skills and vocational training into the curriculum of public secondary schools across the state.
Adebayo made the call in a motion presented before the House during plenary, stressing the need to reposition secondary school education beyond conventional academic learning to include practical skills capable of preparing young people for employment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
The lawmaker noted that the purpose of education should extend beyond the acquisition of academic knowledge to the development of practical competencies, creativity, problem-solving abilities and other skills required for productive participation in the economy.
He observed that the rapidly changing global economy and increasing demand for technically skilled manpower had made it imperative for students to acquire technical and vocational skills alongside conventional academic subjects.
According to him, areas such as solar and inverter installation and maintenance, electrical and electronics technology, welding and fabrication, plumbing, carpentry, tailoring, computer and digital technology, automobile repairs and other emerging trades could provide students with valuable practical competencies.
Adebayo further noted that early exposure to technical and vocational education would enable students to discover their talents and interests while equipping them with legitimate means of livelihood, whether they proceed to tertiary institutions or enter the workforce after secondary education.
He described technical and vocational education as an important foundation for sustainable technological development, entrepreneurship, occupational professionalism and wealth creation.
The lawmaker also referenced the emphasis placed on technical education, vocational development and practical learning by countries including China, Israel and the Czech Republic, noting that their approaches demonstrated the importance of developing technical competencies as part of human capital development.
He expressed concern that excessive emphasis on conventional academic education without sufficient opportunities for practical and vocational learning had left many young people without employable skills, even after completing formal education.
Adebayo also highlighted the shortage of adequately equipped workshops, modern training tools and qualified instructors in many public schools across Oyo State, stressing the need for government intervention and strategic partnerships with technical institutions, private-sector organisations and development agencies.
He argued that providing students with practical skills would not only promote self-reliance, entrepreneurship and innovation but also provide constructive alternatives to idleness and activities capable of exposing young people to social vices, including substance abuse, cultism, internet fraud and violent crime.
The lawmaker warned that failure to deliberately integrate technical and vocational education into the secondary school curriculum could deprive a significant number of young people of opportunities to acquire practical competencies needed to thrive in a rapidly changing economy.
Consequently, the House was urged to call on the Executive Arm of the Oyo State Government, through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Board for Technical and Vocational Education (BOTAVED), to commence the process of integrating structured technical and vocational training into the curriculum of public secondary schools across the state.
The motion also proposed the development of a practical skills framework, in collaboration with relevant agencies and technical institutions, to identify appropriate vocational and technical areas for students at different levels of secondary education.
Among the proposed areas are solar and inverter installation, electrical and electronics technology, welding and fabrication, computer and digital technology, plumbing, carpentry, tailoring, automobile technology and other emerging skills.
Adebayo further called for the establishment and equipping of functional technical and vocational workshops in selected secondary schools across the state’s geopolitical zones as pilot centres, with the programme to be expanded to other schools based on the outcome of the pilot phase.
He also advocated the recruitment, training and retention of qualified technical instructors, as well as partnerships with technical colleges, tertiary institutions, private-sector organisations and skilled artisans to strengthen practical training and mentorship for students.
The proposed initiative, if implemented, is expected to strengthen the link between education and the labour market while giving young people in Oyo State greater opportunities to acquire practical skills, become self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to the state’s economic and technological development.
