A STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS – EDUCATION FOR DEVELOPMENT

In the first paper, Onyebuchi & Wogor, posit that “Schools in Africa have not given much attention to technical education.” This is rather problematic considering that, and according to the authors, “technical education is the kind of training that concerns a particular aspect of science, occupation or profession which has both theoretical and practical instructions that are given to those who are going to be employed in commerce and industry using tools and machinery for the operation, production, preservation and distribution of goods and services.” The authors go on to decry this lack of attention as a recipe for the backwardness and unpreparedness of African graduates. According to them, the neglect could “be the main reason Africa is still backward technologically.” The authors examined the concept of “technical education as a key to industrialization in Africa,” and sought to highlight the importance and role of technical education in African industrial advancement, and the challenges facing technical education in Africa. In concluding, the authors opined that “technical education takes the lead for industrialization in Africa because through it, youths and adults will be equipped with the requisite skills and knowledge needed for economic growth and development.”