OBJECTIVES OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

ims and Objectives of Vocational Education

According to the National Policy on Education (revised 2004), the 5 five main national goals, specifically, aims of Nigeria which are expected to be achieved through the instrument of education are the building of:

• a free and democratic society; 
• a just and egalitarian society; 
• a united, strong and self-reliant nation; 
• a great and dynamic economy; 
• a land full of bright opportunities for all citizens. 

From what we have already studied, it should be clear that the above aims may only be achieved through functional, utility-based kind of education such as vocational education.

The blue print on education goes on to state that:

Technical and vocational education is used as a comprehensive term referring to those aspects of the educational process involving in addition to general education, the study of technologies and related
sciences and the acquisition of practical skills, attitudes, understanding and knowledge relating to occupations in various sectors of economic and social life. technical and vocational
education is further understood to be:

1.  an integral part of general education
2. a means of preparing for occupational field and for effective participation in the world of work;
3. an aspect of lifelong learning and a preparation for responsible citizenship; 
4.  an instrument for promoting environmentally sound, sustainable development; 
5. a method of alleviating poverty (Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004: 28 – 29) 

Furthermore, the blue-print on education (1981, 2004) assert that the aims and objectives of technical and vocational education are to:

• provide trained manpower in the applied sciences, technology and business particularly at craft, advanced craft and technical levels; 
• provide the technical knowledge and vocational skills necessary for agricultural, commercial and economic development; 
• give training and impart the necessary skills to individuals who shall be self-reliant economically; 
• provide people who can apply scientific knowledge to the improvement and solution of environmental problems for the use and convenience of man; 
• enable our young men and women to have an intelligent understanding of the increasing complexity of technology; 
• give an introduction to professional studies in engineering and other technologies. 

It is important to mention here that aspects of vocational education should be part of basic primary, junior secondary and senior secondary school education. At the post secondary level, institutions that offer technical and vocational education include tertiary technical institutions such as science and technical colleges, polytechnics, monotechnics, colleges of education (technical) and universities.

It is also important to note that vocational education should by part of the on-going mass literacy campaigns, adult education, non-formal education as well as special education for the physically challenged e.g. the blind, deaf, dumb. This is to ensure that such programmes are relevant and meaningful to the individuals (recipients) and to the society generally.