FG shifts focus from certificates to practical skills in education reform

The Federal Government says it is reforming Nigeria’s education system to equip graduates with digital skills needed to secure jobs, start businesses and meet the demands of the changing labour market.

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the reforms would focus on skills such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, cloud computing, networking, software development and data analytics.

Alausa spoke at the Cisco Networking Academy Instructor Safari Conference for English West and Central Africa, themed, “Navigating the Future of Skills Development for the Nigerian Economy.”

In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by Ikharo Attah, the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Alausa said the government was moving away from an education system focused mainly on academic learning to one that prepares students for employment and entrepreneurship.

He explained that digital technology was changing how people learn, work and do business, making it important for schools to teach skills that employers need.

The minister stressed that technical knowledge alone was not enough. He said students also needed critical thinking, good communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills to succeed in the workplace.

According to him, the success of digital training programmes should not be judged only by examination results. Instead, students should be able to develop practical solutions, create useful products, improve services and build sustainable businesses.

Alausa called for stronger partnerships among schools, training institutions, employers and industry stakeholders to ensure that students acquire the right skills.

He urged training providers to include practical projects, mentorship, internships and recognised professional certifications in their programmes. He added that students who could show evidence of their practical work would have better chances of getting jobs, starting businesses or pursuing further education.

The minister said the government was also introducing digital technology into school curricula from the primary level to help children develop the foundation for more advanced digital skills.

He identified six priority areas of the ministry’s reform agenda as Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences (STEMM); Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); reducing the number of out-of-school children; girl-child education; data and digitalisation; and quality assurance.

He said digital skills were important to achieving these goals by improving science education, practical learning and education planning.

Alausa also called for wider access to affordable internet services, digital devices and learning materials, especially for girls, persons with disabilities, rural students and those from low-income families.

In a related address, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, urged instructors to focus on critical thinking, complex problem-solving and continuous learning rather than examination results alone.

Inuwa, a former Cisco Networking Academy student, said digital skills could create new career opportunities and help Nigerians adapt to changes in the workplace.

He also highlighted the partnership between NITDA and the Ministry of Education to introduce digital literacy into school curricula and tertiary education.

Alausa assured Nigerians that the ministry would continue to implement education reforms, strengthen partnerships with industries and expand access to quality digital skills training under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.