By Favour Nnabugwu

Irked by the spawning certificates that often fail the test of time in terms of skills and qualitative knowledge, the Senate Committee on education has charged the federal government on the need to establish more technical and technological institutions of learning across the nation.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, at the public presentation of the 2012 Implementation Report of the 4-year Strategic Plan (2011-2015) by the Ministry of Education in Abuja recently, said government should save the country from the wanton parade of certificates by those he described as educated illiterates.

Education Minister, Prof Ruqayyatu Rufai.

“There is need for the federal government to focus on technical and technological education so we can have qualitative education and experience middle level manpower.”

Chukwumerije, who was incensed with the huge certificates churned out from tertiary institutions annually without qualitative graduates, reiterated “what we have continuously spawned in this country are educated illiterates.

“After 50 years of independence, Nigeria is still importing virtually everything. For us to give Africa the right leadership that Nigerians keep holding on paper, we need to pay attention to technical and technological education.”

The Senator, however, commended the Minister of Education, Professor Ruqquayat Rufa’I, for increasing access to education and revamping the sector.
While presenting the 4-year strategic plan, Rufa’I, also called for the need for technical education, saying Nigeria must empower its people with the right skills to enable them compete globally.

“The Nigerian education system must be in a position to perform its basic role of developing individuals with the right skills and competence to compete globally. Our industries must have, at their disposals, workers with the skills to help them maintain competitive advantage.

“We must establish efficient guideline and counseling mechanisms in our institutions so that students can be appropriately supported.”

Commenting on the education sector in 2012, Rufa’I said some significant improvements were recorded in the sector.

“2012 was a good year for the education sector as we made progress in our drive to enhance access to education and also improve quality of education.”