EDTF Board Host The Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) to strengthen ties
The Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board LASTVEB was host to the Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund Board as part of efforts to strengthen ties and experience sharing between two Boards in the area of Technical and Vocational Education.
The Bayelsa State delegation led by the Executive Secretary of EDTF, Professor Ebimieowei Etebu said the EDTF was in Lagos State to understudy LASTVEB system design, training models, it’s funding realities, partnerships and challenges of implementing reforms in a growing TVET environment.
Speaking at the backdrop of the establishment of more Technical Colleges by the Douye Diri led administration, Prof. Etebu said the visit became imperative for the EDTF to understand how Technical Colleges are managed and funded.
He noted that upon his assumption of office, available records showed that the pioneer Board had visited LASTVEB and recommended it as one of the best in the country, hence the decision for a repeat visit.
Responding, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board, Ms. Moronke Azeez thanked the EDTF for the visit.
Ms. Azeez said her Board was responsible for managing Technical and Vocational Education in the State, including oversight of five Technical Colleges and Private Vocational Institutions.
She further said the Board is guided by a five-year development plan built around governance, quality, access, innovation, private sector partnerships and sustainability.
On training and curriculum design, the LASTVEB Executive Secretary said some of its programmes included formal Technical Colleges Programme, Short Skill-for-Work Courses aligning with employment needs, Vocational Offering and Competence Based Training delivered with partners.
She also stated that its Technical Colleges are primarily intended for younger learners transitioning from Junior Secondary Schools.
The discussions also hinged on Student Development, Entrepreneurship and Innovation where she noted that Technical Education should do more than just teach trade skills, but develop entrepreneurships, creativity, soft skills and problem solving abilities.
According to the LASTVEB Executive Secretary, students begin compulsory industrial work experience from Tech-2 with placements arranged across Lagos and surrounding areas.
She also noted that digital learning, assessment and certification were done with access to online content managed through a server-based system that limits students to approved educational resources and are assessed and certified by NABTEB.
Teacher Development, Partnership Model and Shared Responsibilities, System Structure and Welfare Support, Challenges, Reforms and Funding, Infrastructure and Solar Projects were other areas of information sharing.
Professor Etebu thanked his Lagos counterpart for the opportunity to share their experience with Bayelsa State and for approving their visit to some Technical Colleges under LASTVEB.
The EDTF Executive Secretary said Bayelsa recently played host to the Nassarawa State delegation who were in Yenagoa to study her model saying experience sharing was crucial for meaning educational advancement.