Competency Based Education and Training in Technical Vocational Education: Implication for Sustainable National Security and Development

Abstract

Despite the contemporary importance attached to technical and vocational education (TVE) as a panacea for tackling growing unemployment in developing countries, the development and application of TVE in many countries is still largely bedeviled by numerous problems. One of the major challenges of TVE in Nigeria is the lack of employable skills among graduates of TVE institutions. Though several approaches have been adopted as solution to this problem, there seems to be no head off. This calls for new strategies hence the need for the integration of Competency Based Education and Training (CBET) in Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) in the nations TVE. This paper focused on CBET in TVE and its implication for sustainable national security and development in Nigeria. The paper discussed the characteristics, elements and objectives of CBET. It highlighted the benefits of CBET as a training approach that is learner focused, thus allowing participants to acquire competencies required in the performance of their jobs. The authors argued that the  introduction of CBET in TVE programmes will  help to tackle the problem of lack of employable skills among TVE graduates from Nigeria institutions thereby reduce youth unemployment and by extension it will help to address various security and development challenges confronting Nigeria. The paper concluded with some recommendations that include the immediate introduction of CBET in TVE and increase funding of the sector, amongst others.

Keywords: Competence Based Education, Training, Technical Education, Vocational Education, Development, National Security