Alaghodaro Summit: Peer Review, Minister rate Edo skills training, PHC high

…Experts open investment opportunities in human devt sectors

Panelists made up of policy experts at the Alaghodaro Edo State Economic Summit have commended the state government and its Governor, Godwin Obaseki, for his vision for the state in critical sectors of human development.

This is as the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, extolled the plans and efforts made by the state to revamp the primary healthcare Centres (PHCs).

The minister lauded the governor’s plans to develop 20 PHCs in the state as part of long term plan to leave a legacy of 200 fully functional health centres in the state.

At the two of the three plenary sessions at the economic summit, a combination of public officers and policy experts were taken to task on the status of education and health in the state.

At the education session, panelists identified that key strategy in linking education with economy is centred on skill and vocation training which the state has set the pace with the revamping of Edo Technical College.

According to the co-founder of Bridge International Academies, Jay Kimmelman, the challenges facing education in Nigeria is inadequacy of programmes. "There is need for the education to be more hands-on and there is need for the right curriculum to match what is required in the job market," he said.

He added that with the redesign of studies in Edo State schools and emphasis of the state government on innovative skills acquisition in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the governor is on the right path to taking education in the state higher.

In his submission, the Director of National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB), Adeyemi Brown, stated that emphasis must be put on skills acquisition and technical education for youths.

He equally enjoined the state government to properly guide schools on assessment and certification such that graduates from the schools would have broader environment from where they can get and create jobs.

While explaining further on the importance of school assessment, Brown said: "Our certification must match global standards so that our youths can be competitive.

He equally added that institutions such as World Bank, Bank of Industry (BoI) among others are willing to partner the state government and provide money for student in proper vocational schools.

On his part, the Learning and Development Officer\Teacher of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (ESUBEB), Okhiran Imonkuede, lamented that youths are being graduated with outdated engagement skills.

At technical schools in Edo State, he said efforts were being made to broaden reach of certification as well as impact necessary skills on student.