NAWOJ C'River Celebrates '2024 World Youth Skills Day ... Advocates Inclusion of Vocational Education In School Curriculum.
Hannah ARIKPO
Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ) Cross River State chapter has joined the rest of the world to commorate the this years World Youth Skills Day with the training of some senior secondary school students at Estate Secondary School, Ikot Ansa, Calabar on some vocational skills.
Addressing the students, Chairman of NAWOJ Cross River Chapter, Mrs Rekpene Uket spoke on the significance of the day and called on the Ministry of Education, House of Assembly Committee on Education, SUBEB including other stakeholders in the Education Sector to incorporate vocational education in the state school curriculum.
She stated, "this will equip graduates at different levels of academic pursuit to acquire at least one or two skills to turn them to self employed entrepreneurs while waiting for white collar jobs as well as reduce crime rate among the youths.
The NAWOJ Chairman also advised parents to encourage their wards to learn a trade for self development and sustainance.
"NAWOJ Cross River is making frantic efforts to ensure the inclusion of vocational subjects in the state school curriculum as a deliberate step to reduce the rate of unemployment and dependence on white collar jobs".
Presenting a Tak on career counseling, A Veteran Journalist, Mrs Ursular Ikpali, described the theme for this years World Youth Skills Day, "Youth Skills and Peace for Development" as apt, in view of the challenges posed by unemployment in the society adding that NAWOJ Cross River decision to key into the day was to assist the young students to develop skills for self reliance.
The Principal, Estate Secondary School, Mr Abuo Sunny Abang decried the alarming percentage of school graduates without skills that enters the labour market every year and stressed the need for parents to enroll their wards to learn skills in automobile maintenance, fashion designing, shoe mending, catering among others so that after their Education, they must have acquired skills to earn a living.
He commended NAWOJ Cross River for advocating the inclusion of vocational Education in the school curriculum and for celebrating the day with students of the school by teaching them selfreliant revenue generating skills.
"One day is not enough for this teaching, I appeal to members of NAWOJ to repeat the training session by the next academic session to enable more students to benefit.
In an interview, the facilitator, Mrs Mable Agala stated, "the students were taught how to tie 'Gele' head gear as well as make fascinator as a source of generating income for themselves and also assist their parents.
Some students, Sarah Asido Ntemde and Edmond Offiong Larry thanked NAWOJ for bringing the training to their school and promised to put into practice the knowledge acquired.
Students were taught creative skills on how to tie Gele head gear and make fascinator.
