A Survey of Vocational Training Needs of 15-25 Years Old Out-of-School Youths in Bauchi Metropolis

Youths represent the future and hope of every country. The high returns on resources invested in youths today have both immediate and long term benefits. Where they existed and are functioning well, youth programmes play an important role in building life skills of individual young people, strengthening families and communities, and working towards sustainable development as a major contributor to the overall progress of a country (Seiders, 1985). Many countries have realized that the development and harnessing the potential of the youths can best be achieved through a sound educational system. In Nigeria for instance, the training given to youths at the secondary school level is both pre-vocational and academic. According to the National Policy on Education (NPE, 2004), the aim of secondary school is to make a person to be productive to himself and the society. Academic and vocational courses are offered at the Junior Secondary School (JSS) level. These courses are suppose to provide definite purpose and meaning to education by relating to occupational goals, provides technical knowledge and work skills necessary for employment, and develop abilities, attitudes, work habits and appreciation which contributes to a satisfying and productive life.Abdullahi (1993)states that vocational education is expected among other things to assist students to acquire relevant occupational and technical skills, prepare for future occupations, and make successful transition from school to world of work.