Abuja: The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has advocated for a significant change in the agricultural curricula for polytechnics and Colleges of Education, urging an 80 per cent focus on practical training. Alausa made this appeal during the reception of a committee report on the implementation of the revised agricultural curricula for these institutions.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Alausa emphasized that moving from a previous model of 70 per cent theoretical and 30 per cent practical training to 80 per cent practical and 20 per cent theory is essential for equipping Nigerian youths with the necessary skills for the agricultural sector. He highlighted the inadequacies of the current educational approach, noting that many institutions lack demonstration farms and relevant content, leaving students ill-prepared for real-world challenges.
Alausa expressed confidence that this new approach would contribute to a better-trained workforce, enhance agricultural capacity, and translate training in
to productive activities contributing to national development. He stressed the importance of providing young Nigerians with practical skills that extend beyond the classroom.
He further outlined the reasons for the curriculum review, pointing out that the previous curriculum was heavily theory-based and not competency-driven. The outdated curricula resulted in graduates who were not equipped to improve food security in the country. Alausa called for a comprehensive rollout of the new curricula, emphasizing the need for industry players, academics, teachers, and stakeholders to understand the reforms’ rationale.
The minister also highlighted the necessity of teacher training and support to implement the curricula effectively. He linked the reform to President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to advancing agriculture as a skills-based sector and promoting youth participation.
Alausa noted that despite significant investments in agriculture, 80 per cent of Nigeria’s agricultural output still comes from subsistence fa
rming, with mechanized farming contributing only 20 per cent. He underscored the need to train students in polytechnics and colleges of education to address this imbalance.
He assured that the ministry would collaborate with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), institutions, industry, and other stakeholders to ensure the revised curricula are effectively implemented.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, praised the committee’s dedication to the review process. Ahmad acknowledged the contributions of the NBTE, Skills Council, industry representatives, and academics, expressing optimism that the reviewed curricula would yield visible results in the agricultural sector.
Presenting the report on behalf of the committee, NBTE Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, announced the development of 36 new and reviewed National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) curricula, three National Certificate in Education (NCE) curricula, and 31 National Occupational Sta
ndards. Bugaje stated that 27 of these standards were newly developed, while four existing standards were reviewed. He confirmed that the documents had been approved by relevant regulatory bodies and would be formally presented at a future public event.