AS part of efforts to boost quality of technical education in the country, a team from National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, were in Anambra State for final accreditation and resource inspection of educational programmes offered by technical institutions in the state.

ADK Mohammed, the director Vocational Technical and Skills Development, while addressing Heads of department on arrival at Ministry of Education, Library Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka said that Anambra State made progress in technical education.

He explained that the essence of the visit by NBTE was to give advice on how to move the institutions forward.

Husaini Muhammad, deputy director of the board, who is head of NBTE Technical Division, after visiting St. John’s Science and Technical College Allor, Idemili Local Government Area, noted that the essence of their visit was to inspect programmes offered by the colleges.

According to him it is also to check the learning environment and general education, including chemistry, physics and biology and laboratories as well as general administration.

He added: “We are here to carry out accreditation for technical colleges in the state. The inspection is a form of advisory, to check equipment in workshops in order to ascertain they have met standards.’’

It was also to see the facilities put in place for the training of the children to acquire necessary skills in each of the programmes on offer.

The deputy director noted that the state was becoming a pacesetter in technical and vocational education, compared to other colleges visited so far.

He, however, called for a shift from literal education to skilled education as it was the only way to fight youth restiveness.

“By the time our youths have skills to engage in production of goods and services to meet basic needs of the country, there will be advancement in technology and we will be able to export our products rather than importing.”

At Government Technical College, Umuchu, Aguata Local Government Area, the team was received by the school’s principal and community representatives.

They inspected building drawing studio, library, sick bay, electrical and building departments, bakery, painting and decoration departments, brick making, fabrication, as well as welding and the ICT centre.

At the schools, students were seen in their classes receiving lectures and carrying out practical courses as instructed by their teachers.

The entourage include, Ifeoma Ezeaku, permanent secretary, Ministry of Education; Laz Okafor, director, Educational Services, and other heads of department and school principals.

– Jan. 10, 2018 @ 17:45 GMT