The Lagos State government is actively focusing on addressing the rising unemployment rate and the increasing number of out-of-school children by prioritizing technical and vocational education.
The state’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, emphasized the government’s commitment to establishing more technical colleges across the state as a key initiative to combat these issues.
During a school resumption monitoring on Monday, Mr. Alli-Balogun assured that the government’s plan includes providing the necessary equipment and machinery in a conducive environment. This will be done across various local government areas to encourage more young people to embrace technical and vocational education, which is seen as a crucial step towards enhancing employability and reducing the number of out-of-school children.
This initiative reflects the state’s broader efforts to equip youths with the practical skills needed to thrive in the workforce, thus addressing both educational and employment challenges in the region.
He emphasized that technical skills and competency are essential in today’s global economic landscape, noting that a good technical college should not only train students but also develop its workshops in a way that generates income for the institution.
Among the schools visited were Government Technical College, Agidingbi; Agidingbi Junior and Senior Grammar School; and Agidingbi Primary School in Ikeja, among others.
While addressing the teachers, the commissioner urged them to embrace their professionalism, stressing the importance of being punctual, committed, and dedicated to their responsibilities.
He told them that the state government would want them to improve their service delivery, and upgrade their skills by being open to new knowledge, especially in the areas of Artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, among others.
He also charged them to take extra-curricular activities such as essay and debate competitions, sporting events, and the rest of them with their students more seriously as they are expected to produce total and globally competitive learners.
