VOCATIONAL EDUCATION: A PANACEA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper sees vocational education as a major panacea for whatever sustainable development that has to take place in Nigeria. Just like in every other African country in the present phenomenon in the continent, vocational education is very germane to move the nation forward and to achieve its glory. Theoretical framework relevant to this paper is therefore discussed, also historical background to the concept of sustainable development as described by scholars of education are expressed. The paper looks at vocational education and its function as described by scholars and equally expatiates on how different types of education can be manipulated for sustainable development to take place. More importantly now that unemployment has bedeviled the country Nigeria and the entire African continent making the youths now engage in nefarious activities thus leading to unsustainable development. As such, this paper lays emphasis on the specification of the National Policy on Education (2014) as the way forward to achieve a viable sustainable development for the country and the continent at large. Amongst Suggestions given towards achieving this purpose are: that vocational education should be included in the curriculum alongside every course of study a candidate applied for in the tertiary institutions, that measures should be taken by government to monitor the implementation of this vocational education program put in place for efficiency and effectiveness to achieve the goals of the National Policy on Education, otherwise any attempt at sustainable development may end up as a mirage.