Vocationalisation of Secondary Education in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Prospects

It is highly indisputable that, the ever-escalating level of chronic unemployment among youths in many countries across the globe coupled with the resulting high level of social unrest among the youth’s accounts for the increased emphasis on acquisition of vocational skills for self-reliance. The paper discusses vocationalisation of secondary education in Nigeria and also examined Nigeria’s policy initiatives at vocationalisation of secondary education. It also discusses the fundamental issues in vocationalisation of secondary education, as well as some of the pressing challenges hampering effective vocationalisation of education in Nigeria. The paper suggests, among others, that a model secondary school should be established in each local government area in the country. Such schools should be fully equipped with the necessary facilities, equipment and staff for effective training of students in vocational areas. In addition, provision of infrastructures such as classrooms and workshops across all levels would ease overcrowding, increase access and reduce student/teacher ratio. Keywords: Vocationalisation, secondary education, issues, challenges and prospect