The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has unveiled a sweeping reform of Nigeria’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system, emphasizing a shift from a theoretical to a hands-on approach.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, Dr. Alausa outlined a significant change in the curriculum, where 80% of the focus will now be on practical training, while only 20% will remain dedicated to theoretical learning.

Dr. Alausa criticized the current system, noting that the heavy reliance on didactic teaching had led to an ineffective TVET framework. He explained, “The way technical education has been structured is not the best because we focus heavily on didactics. We are now clearly changing the TVET structure from didactics to skill acquisition, with a clear emphasis on practical learning.”

As part of this reform, the Minister mentioned ongoing consultations with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to implement the new framework. He also highlighted the importance of aligning the country’s education system with the needs of its predominantly young population, 70% of which is under the age of 30. Dr. Alausa stressed that the focus would no longer be on outdated fields like banking, business, and insurance, but on creating jobs and equipping the youth with life skills to drive economic growth.

To incentivize enrollment in technical education, Dr. Alausa announced that the government would cover tuition fees and build capacity in technical schools. Additionally, short-term curricula ranging from six to twelve months will be introduced, with the first group of students expected to start their training in early 2025. These students will receive entrepreneurial grants upon completion of their courses, with practical learning and apprenticeships forming a central part of their training.