Experts charge academic institutions to train students for labour market

Academics and heads of industries have advised educational institutions to train their students in accordance with the needs of the labour market. 
 
This, they said can be achieved through reform of the education system from the primary, secondary to the tertiary level.
 
They expressed displeasure over the education system, which they said does not encourage curriculum assessment and continuity in all the academic levels.

Speaking at a Pillow Art Competition among 20 private primary schools in Lagos jointly sponsored by Vitafoam Nigeria Plc. and Berger Paints Nigeria Plc., the Group Managing Director, Vitafoam, Mr Taiwo Adeniyi explained that there is no meeting point between the university and the industry, adding that students are only taught to read and pass for the next class, while professors write books to get promoted.

Adeniyi said it is imperative for the country to have bodies that access the curriculum of the education system to reflect the need of the industry.
 
“If you are teaching a child, you are teaching him to fit into the industry, the teacher has to go back and break it down so that the same language that is been taught to the child is the same as the labour market,” he added.

Meanwhile, addressing participants on the essence of the competition, Adeniyi said it was to encourage and wake up the creative abilities in the young ones, which will stand them out in any field of human endeavour, adding that creative art should be included in the school curriculum to teach the children about nature and get them to affect their environment positively.

On her part, the Marketing Manager, Berger Paint Nigeria Plc., Mrs Funmi Lawal explained that Berger Paint’s involvement in the event was in consonance with the company’s nature of business, which has to do with colour and creativity. 

According to her, the young ones are naturally endowed with creative power, adding that the best way to harness this potential is by creating opportunities for them to showcase their talent, as the minds of children have great ideas, which must be developed.

Also speaking, the founder of I Create Club, the Non-Governmental Organisation that organized the competition, Mrs Eniola Afolayan said the art challenge was all about creativity, which must be inculcated in the children.
 
Miss Lois Akere of the University of Lagos Women Society Nursery and Primary School won the first position went away with a complete bed and Television set, while students and teachers in all the 20 schools went away with various prizes from the two household companies.