Nigeria Educational System is Killing (has killed) the Craftmen

The Nigerian educational system is purely academic, demanding that everyone ends up in the University and the less fortunate, the Polythecnic. Take a look at the 6-3-3-4 system:
6 - Six years or peimary education. Purely academic.
3 - 3 years of junior secondary education
3- 3 years of senior secondary education
4 - X years of university/polythectic education

The system is not created to cater for crafts like Automechanic, Plumbers, Painters, etc and all those technical jobs that need a bit of education. The result is that the craftmen who happens to be the bedrock of any society are lacking. Today it is reserved for who don't go to school. They are looked down upon. The result is that we have a frustrated class, who learnt a trade and had a "freedom" from the boss who now decides he is qualified.

I think the government needs to bring back the Technical schools. This was the promise of the 6-3-3-4 that some kid who have flair for technical things will go to technical schools after Junior secondary school. This has not happend almost 15 years (?) after the startup of the 6-3-3-4 system. The results is everyone is now forced to go through the academic length and end up looking for white colar jobs.

I think those who have lived in Nigeria very well over the last years will understand this. You will understand what Im saying when it seams the mechanic is causing more problems for your car, your electrician is using his teeth to pull wires, your plumber is using glue to seal pipes etc.

The trade (technical) schools need to come back!!!!

demanding that everyone ends up in the University and the less fortunate, the Polythecnic.

Are polytechnic graduates bunch of losers? Nonsense.

We need trade schools, but Nigeria is hardly spoiled with an abundance of universities to be complaining already.

You're right bibi. This kind of a thing need to be checked else we're end up producing "pali" graduates who cannot use their hands to do what they said they studied.

Bibi,
Nothing wrong with that system if you remember from social studies class, we have formal and informal education systems in Nigeria, which cater towards different professions. My problem now is that a lot of the apprentices never take the effort to conclude their training before taking off due to the cost of "freedom" as well as their rush to start making money. They in turn perpetuate this lack of knowledge when they take on apprentices (garbage in garbage out). That is the reason for some of the anomalies u see with these artisans. Equally i am sure you have also come across very good artisans as well, not so?. That should make a good case for the system.

The formal education thing and university are not for everybody. As you have rightly stated, we need more trade schools in the country.

ANyway, I think we need to trat these craftsmen with more respect. Maybe craft degrees will help with that?

obong:

We need trade schools, but Nigeria is hardly spoiled with an abundance of universities to be complaining already.

Technical colleges and Poly's need to get their acts together and start traing plumber, builders electricans auto mechanices e.t.c because in a few years time the demand for these tradesmen will outstrip supply then these tradesmen will be able to charge exhorbitant fees.

Here in the UK plumbers and electrians make a lot of money because of the shotage of skilled trademen, we are now begining to see people quit white collar jobs to learn trades because of the money they can make and also the job security they provide.

If you find yourself unemployed after your university education why not lean a trade, that way you can become self employed instead of wasting time with "I beg to apply" letters.

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