The Vice Chancellor of National open university of Nigeria, (NOUN), Prof. Olufemi Peters has said that the NOUN staff Nursery and Primary school has introduce skills acquisition programme in their own school curriculum.
Represented by Prof. Sammani Rabo Butswat the eighth Inter House sports competition in Kaduna, the Vice Chancellor explained that the vocational skills includes training tailoring, plumbing, electrical installations.
He said: ‘We already had 189 pupils interested in the various aspect of these vocational training, we have approved a small stipend payment but these may not start immediately’.
‘It is free for this session but by next session, we will decide for the stipend to be paid by parents whose pupils will participate and we will also decide on the participation period within the session or during the holiday. They can still camp and we want still expand it to include computer appreciation.
‘We also want to introduce these young guys and young girls too to electronic library. They should know that they could be able to access the course materials anywhere in the world outside’.
The Director Centre for Human Resources Development, Prof. Aminu Umar said: ‘This annual event is organised to redeem and re-jig the talent of our pupils to be able to appreciate that all work without play make jack a dull boy. And as you can see, they are in the sun but are very much comfortable. I’m very happy that the sizable numbers of our parents are here to see what their wards can perform.
‘I want to let you know the 21st Century knowledge is to give your talent, intelligence and vocation. So your child maybe good in the classroom but may be bad in vocation; your child may be bad in intelligence but may be good in vocation; your child may be good in talent and may be bad in vocation.
‘We have started it and we hope and pray you’ll give us demanding support and cooperation to ensure that we embark on this new journey of supporting government policy of vocational skills right from the basic level’.
