FG’s introduction of 15 new skills, vocational courses will boost students’ employability — Fatoba

A member of the House of Representatives, representing Ekiti Central federal constituency 1, Hon. Fatoba Steve Olusola, has revealed that the decision of the federal government to introduce 15 new trade skills and vacations into the curriculum is to enhance the employability and practical skills of the students.

He urged Nigerian parents and schoolchildren to embrace the federal government’s introduction of new skills and vocations into the country’s basic education curriculum.

Fatoba, who spoke while speaking with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, said the implementation of the updated curriculum designed for primary and junior secondary school students will commence in January 2025, following approval from the National Council on Education.

He also called for the inclusion of historical courses for the pupils to know about their past to be able to project into the future.

The federal lawmaker added that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s aim was to make students self-reliant and competitive and align with global standards on completion of such levels of education.

According to him, “The government plans to finalise preparations over the next three months to ensure both private and public schools are ready.

“These preparations include teacher training, the development of instructional guides, and infrastructure improvements.

“The curriculum aims to equip Nigerian students with modern skills like digital literacy, robotics, and various vocational and entrepreneurship opportunities.”

Fatoba, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics, and Values, maintained that the students will have the option to choose from various courses, of which they will have practical knowledge relevant to the economy upon graduation.

The 15 newly introduced trades in the Basic Education curriculum, according to him, included plumbing, tiling,  and floor works; POP; event decoration and management; bakery and confectioneries; hairstyling; makeup; interior design; GSM repairs; and satellite/TV antenna installation.

Others are CCTV, Intercom Installation and Maintenance, Solar Installation and Maintenance, Garment Making, Agriculture and Processing (i.e., crop production, beekeeping, horticulture, sheep and goat farming, poultry, and rabbit farming), and Basic Digital Literacy (IT and robotics).

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