A COMMUNIQUÉ PRESENTED AT THE END OF THE 1ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND 27TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF TECHNOLOGY (NATT) HELD AT THE FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION (TECHNICAL) AKOKA, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA FROM 20TH – 24TH OCTOBER, 2014 In the 1st International Conference of Nigerian Association of Teachers of Technology (NATT) held at Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria from 20th to 24th October, 2014, several presentations were made. These were in the form, of Keynote Address, Lead Papers, and plenary sessions which exhaustively discussed issues with the Theme “Exploiting the Gains of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Local Technologies in Sustainable Industrial Transformation in a Developing Economy”. The Sub themes were as follows: TVET and Local Technologies in Sustainable Agriculture for National Transformation; Local Content Development for Industrial Revolution; TVET and Local Technologies for Sustainable Youth Empowerment; TVET and Local Technologies for Sustainable Entrepreneurial Skills Development; TVET and Local Technologies for Sustainable National Security. The conference was declared open by the Provost of the College, Dr. S.O. Olusanya. During the conference, over fifty papers were presented. After series of critical deliberations, the following observations were made: • Most Technical and Vocational Institutions across the country are administered by non- technical professionals. • There is no synergy between industries and TVET institutions at all levels of education. • There is low patronage to locally manufactured products. • Policy discontinuity in support to local manufacturers. • Inadequate qualified personnel, infrastructure and facilities in TVET institutions. In view of these observations, the following Recommendations were made: 1. TVET Institutions should be administered by qualified technical professionals. 2. Since National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) has been mandated to oversee the Technical Teachers’ Training Programme (TTTP) in the country, it should have technical professionals as desk officers to adequately co-ordinate the programme. 3. Government should liaise with Industries to provide necessary support by providing modern equipment for practical and entrepreneurial teaching in TVET Institutions as well as accommodate trainees during Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). 4. Relevant Government Agencies should encourage local content development and diffusion for sustainable technological development and expansion of the National Industrial base. 5. Policies on Local Technologies should be protected by Legislative provisions to ensure consistency for long term planning and investment by partners. 6. Government and Private Organizations, as a matter of urgency, should improve assistance to TVET Institutions with requisite personnel, infrastructure and facilities. 7. Substantial amount of Tertiary Education Trust (TET) Fund should be allotted to TVET programme. 8. Nigerian Association of Teachers of Technology (NATT) should be given necessary support by Private Organizations, Federal and State Governments to organize conferences, workshops, seminars and exhibitions to showcase locally made products with the intention of improving on them. 9. Government should involve NATT in policy making bodies that affect TVET. 10. There should be regular evaluation of TVET progrmames by relevant bodies to conform with industrial best processes and practices to enable TVET output acquire relevant and useful skills. Dr. Mathew Ukpongson Okorieocha Chris Ph.D National President Chairman Communique Drafting Committee Dr. A. S. Bappah Member Mr. William Rumun Gbanger Member Mrs. Eze, Chinwe P. Member Mr. Ikulghan, Olu Chris Secretary
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 23:24:41 +0000
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