Akor, John Terlumun
Department of Technical Education,
College of Education, Katsina-Ala, Benue State.
AND
Ukosu, Bem
Government Secondary School, Kadarko.
Nasarawa State.
Abstract
The involvement of some Nigerian youths in many crimes in recent times is a great concern to all patriotic citizens and a threat to the existence of the society. Nigerian roads are infested with dangers from armed robbers, kidnappers, and other social vices. Our homes and streets also are no longer safe both at night and daytime. It is on this note that this paper considered vocational and technical education programme as a major catalyst towards reforming Nigerian Youths to achieve their full potentials and contribute in the development of the country’s economy. The aim of this vocational and technical education programme is to empower the youths with relevant training and skills to become more useful and productive citizens. Some of the vital aspects of the programme which should be given serious consideration are highlighted in view of achieving the desired objectives. The paper therefore concluded that there is every need to place priority on the type of education that can adequately provide opportunities for the youths who constitute a meaningful number of the entire country’s population to maximize their potentials. It recommended among others that: Youths should be properly guided in order to take up trades that would be useful to themselves as well as the society at large. Social vices like political thuggery, drug abuse, cultism, sexual harassment among others are things that mostly mislead the youth in modern society. All hands must be on deck to ensure that training programmes like Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) andp similar others are put in proper perspective to complement the theoretical aspect of VTE. Besides, modern infrastructural facilities should be provided in VTE institutions in such a way that trainees would be properly positioned to function effectively and face the challenges in the wider society.
Keywords: Vocational and Technical Education, Youth Reformation, Economic Sustainability, Development.
