PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AND WORKPLACE TRAINING IN TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (TVET) PROGRAMMES IN NIGERIA: THE NEED FOR A NIGERIAN MODEL

Abstract

Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is widely acknowledged as a potent means for fast-tracking technological progress, citizens’ capacities, economic growth and national development. However, due to the widening infrastructure gap in most public TVET institutions occasioned by the growing financial difficulties which has made it impossible for the government to pay for the relatively high cost of TVET, partnership with the private sector becomes inevitable. The paper discusses how workplace training in TVET programmes in Nigeria could be strengthened through Public-Private Partnership. The paper proposes a paired model of TVET that should be incorporated into the National Policy on Education. Under the proposed model, students could receive theoretical lessons in schools for three to four days in a week and practical lessons in industries for one or two days in a week. This partnership will obviously lead to effective skill acquisition as the industries would provide adequate facilities with competent instructors. It will also circumvent the intractable problem of poor funding; inadequate facilities and skills mismatch thus facilitating technological and economic growth of the nation. The paper recommended that all stakeholders in the TVET sub-sector should henceforth utilize the proposed model of Public-Private Partnership for enhancing workplace training in Nigeria. This will obviously improve the quality of TVET programmes in Nigeria as it would facilitate effective skill acquisition through practical training of students.