Technical and Vocational Education: Key to Poverty Alleviation in the Third World with Particular Reference to Nigeria

Abstract

Education is considered to be the key to effective development strategies, technical and vocational education is the master key that can alleviate poverty, promote peace, conserve the environment, improve the quality of life for all and help achieve sustainable development. This study sets out to examine the potency of technical and vocational education as a key for poverty alleviation. The concept and the scope of technical and vocational education was discussed as well as the causes of poverty and its alleviation through technical and vocational education. It was concluded that no meaningful poverty alleviation can be achieved by any nation without effective and efficient technical and vocational education programmes. It was therefore recommended that there should be emphasis on the practical aspect of vocational education so as to enhance the production of productive members of the nation's labour force who will be self-reliant or employable in an industry or company. The man power needs of technical and vocational schools should be met by employing people who have the basic human capacity, and knowledge of vocational courses. Proper funding of technical and vocational education by the government, nongovernmental organizations, private individuals and the society should be provided.

Keywords: Sustainable Development, Poverty Alleviation, Self-reliant, Technical Education and Vocational Education.