Bill for compulsory vocational studies in secondary schools passes second reading

A bill that mandates the teaching of vocational studies in all secondary schools in Nigeria has passed the second reading stage in the House of Representatives. The bill which was first introduced in the house on 2nd July, 2020, was sponsored by Hon. Joseph Asuku Bello, a lawmaker representing Adavi/Okehi Federal Constituency of Kogi State.

Asuku in his lead debate on Wednesday, April 28, explained that there was a need for the compulsory teaching of vocational studies in secondary schools, as a way of making students skillful at the secondary school level and productive in adulthood.

The lawmaker in the motion said that the staggering rate of unemployment in Nigeria was due to an educational system that was designed to produce graduates for white collar jobs, rather than being entrepreneurs or employers of labour.

He said, the compulsory teaching of vocational studies would make young people to focus on being their own bosses in the business world rather than look for jobs after graduation.