FG, Singapore Train Teachers to Improve Technical Education

The Federal Government has commenced a nationwide capacity-building programme for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) instructors in partnership with the Institute of Education, Singapore, in a move aimed at improving the quality of technical education and producing a more skilled workforce.

The initiative, tagged “Train the Trainers (Pedagogy & Assessment) Programme,” is a 10-day intensive training jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Institute of Education, Singapore.

The programme is being implemented in two phases, with the first cohort of 60 technical teachers from federal and state institutions currently undergoing training in Abuja, while another 60 participants will undertake a second round in Lagos.

Speaking with journalists during the training, the National Coordinator, Special Programmes, Office of the Minister of Education, Adebayo Onigbanjo, said the programme was designed to equip instructors with modern teaching and assessment techniques that would improve learning outcomes in technical institutions.

He explained that participants would replicate the training in their various schools through a cascading model, enabling more instructors to benefit from the knowledge and skills acquired.

“We are working with the Institute of Technical Education Services in Singapore to develop capacity for TVET in Nigeria. This training focuses on pedagogy and assessment, equipping teachers with the best methods for technical instruction,” Onigbanjo said.

According to him, the Federal Government is strengthening the capacity of instructors in response to the increasing demand for technical skills training across the country.

He disclosed that more than 1.3 million Nigerians registered for technical skills training when the programme was introduced last year, making it necessary to expand the number of qualified instructors.

“We need more trainers. Those being trained today will return to their schools and train their colleagues, allowing us to scale up capacity across the country,” he said.

Onigbanjo noted that the initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to reposition the TVET sector as a key driver of economic growth, industrialisation and employment.

He said improving the quality of instruction in technical colleges would produce graduates equipped with industry-relevant skills needed to meet the demands of the labour market.

The programme, he added, is also part of a broader collaboration between Nigeria and Singapore to develop a new generation of highly skilled technical instructors capable of training thousands of students nationwide.

Also speaking, the Technical Assistant to the Minister of Education on TVET, Dr Nabila Mohamed, said the training was designed to shift technical education from a largely theoretical approach to competency-based practical learning.

She said participants were being introduced to modern instructional methods that would better prepare students for employment.

“The biggest takeaway is making training competency-based. Rather than focusing mainly on theory, teachers will integrate practical skills that prepare students for employment while learning effective methods of delivering those skills,” she said.

Manager of the Academic Pedagogy Programme at Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education Services, Choo Poh Lian, explained that the programme focuses on strengthening teachers’ instructional methods rather than teaching specific vocational trades.

She said participants were learning practical demonstration techniques, student engagement strategies, constructive feedback methods and performance-based assessment aligned with industry standards.

“We are sharing how Singapore teaches practical skills so that graduates become workplace-ready. We are focusing on pedagogy, how teachers demonstrate, guide students through practical tasks, provide constructive feedback and assess competencies based on industry performance criteria,” she said.

One of the participants, Odebode Adegoke of the Federal Science and Technical College, Ijebu-Imushin, Ogun State, described the training as timely and impactful.

He said the exposure to Singapore’s globally recognised TVET model had broadened participants’ understanding of competency-based instruction and practical assessment, adding that the new approaches would make technical education more engaging and relevant to industry needs.

The programme, which runs from June 29 to July 10, is expected to strengthen teaching capacity in technical institutions and support the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition vocational education as a major pillar for job creation, industrial development and sustainable economic growth.