Approved 64 PTVET Is To Increase Access To Technical Education-FG

—-As Osun Govt Calls For Institutionalised Funding Of Education

Federal government on Monday said it has issued certificates to 64 newly approved private Technical and Vocational Education and training( TVET) institutions through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to increase access to technical education as well as providing route to higher education in the country.

Also the Governor of Osun state Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola contended that time has come to instituitionalise funding of Education, saying establishment of Education Bank is not a bad idea.

Speaking on Monday at the 79th plenary meeting of the joint Consultative Committees on Education( JCCE) ,holding in Osogbo Osun State Capital, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, ARC, Sonny Echono, represented by the Director Basic Senior Education of the Ministry Dr, (Mrs) Lami Ahmodu opined that these institutions are to equip the youths and working adults to meet the increasing demand for technical manpower, widen access to technical education and serve the need for self-reliance .

Echono who spoke on the theme “Education for Self-reliance :a tool for the achievement of Education 2030 Agenda” said education is the key to achieving all 17 Goals in the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

He said realising it’s full potential will require concerted efforts by all the stakeholders in Education in the country.

The Permanent Secretary also noted that emphasis on youths and adults having relevant technical, vocational and entrepreneurial skills will promote sustainable development in the country.

The 2030 Agenda for sustainable development the Permanent secretary opined that it was an ambitious, aspirational and Universal agenda to wipe out poverty in the country.

The Federal Permanent secretary however urged all the stakeholders in Education to give the nation education a new direction towards attainment of the objectives in Education 2030 Agenda.

While speaking further Oyetola who was represented by the Head of Service, Osun State Dr, Festus Olowogboyega Oyebade stressed that government must reflect on the ways to resuscitate Students Loan Boards in all the States of the Federation if seriously the Country is to pursue 2030 agenda.

He said this year 79th meeting between Osun State ministry of Education in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Education should seek for new ways to assist governments at all levels to make adequate funding for literacy projects, including mobilization and sensitization to enhance enrollment, recruitment of adults education facilitators and qualified teachers and sings language interpreters in Schools.

He then advised government to invest heavily in Social protection so as to minimize Crime wave, a social protection that must have Students in its net, he noted.

Also in his own speech the Osun State Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education Mr, Sunday Olajide said the meeting was a technical one in which memoranda in Nine areas will be considered.

The areas he remarked are Adults and Non-Formal Education,Basic Education, Secondary education, Special Education, and Teachers education.

Others are Technology and Science education, Tertiary education, Educational planning and Quality Assurance in Education.

Mr Olajide however stressed that the focus of Osun state education sector in the state is to provide education that would produce individuals who are literate, critical thinkers, problem solvers, innovators and virtuous citizens