The Minister of Education,Professor Rukayat Ahmed Rufai has reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to providing vocational education through skill acquisition and skill development programmes.

In view of this, the Federal Government licensed 86 Innovation Enterprising and Vocational Enterprising Institutions to award National Innovative Diploma (NID) and National Vocational Diploma (NVD).

Prof. Ruqayat Rufai posited that the vocational institutions approved out-numbered the conventional polytechnics in the country which are just 75 in number, adding that the approval is in pursuance of the MDG in education.

The minister made this disclosure at the Workshop on Flexible Skills Development in Nigeria held at Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State.

Represented by the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Dr. Masaud Kazaure, the minister posited that the embrace of flexible skill method of teaching would go a long way to increase access to technical and vocational education in Nigeria. Prof. Rufai revealed that the FG has reviewed technical education syllabus in collaboration with  UNESCO to ensure that those who cannot acquire formally can have access to technical or vocational training.

Also, the Director, NBTE Centre of Excellence, Dr. S. M. Abubakar, said the FG recently-approved NID and NVD are to create avenue for willing learners without academic qualification usually required at the point of entry into conventional  higher institutions in the country.

Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Dr. Philipa Idogho whose institution is a pilot school in FSD in Nigeria, hinted that the polytechnic has made FSD and ICT integration a significant institutional strategic objective.

Dr. Idogho said already, the polytechnic has 42 community learners who participate in Commonwealth of Learning (COL) global instructional network.

She, however, decried that the prospect of a successful flexible skills development programme is hindered by the challenge of bandwidth and power which she said the Federal Government is looking into.

Alison Mead Richardson, an Education Specialist with COL pointed out that FSD  would curb youth restiveness by helping them acquire skills that would make them useful to themselves and the society, also shift focus from white collar job to self employment.

She said the FSD network uses educational social media to provide members with access to resources on all aspects of flexible and blended learning.