ENUGU (Sundiata Scholar) – The Enugu State Government has commenced the construction of eight Science, Technical, and Vocational (STV) Schools in the state, starting with the Government Technical College (GTC), Enugu.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, said this during the inspection of work at the GTC, on Wednesday.
He revealed that there would be three models of the STV Schools focusing on Science and Technology; Building and Architecture; and Industrial Agriculture.
The commissioner regretted that GTC, Enugu, had lost its glory, reiterating the determination of the Mbah Administration to refocus the young ones of the state on science, technical, and vocational education.
This, he noted, would underline by practical learning to help them fit into the 21st Century industry.
“As you can see, this historic institution established in 1948 has lost its former glory. The buildings all around us are in different stages of dilapidation.
“But we are happy to share with Enugu people the good news that the Enugu State Government has already embarked on a very audacious education reform project.
”This is by establishing eight brand new Science, Technical, and Vocational Schools.
“It will serve SS1 to SS3 in the STV category of schools, starting with GTC,” he said.
He said the governor believes that, “we are now in a new age of industry and technology and we want to bring back the lost glory of GTC.
”But making sure that it reflects the new opportunities and realities of industrialisation, economic development, and of youth empowerment.
“We will be establishing one new STV school in each of the eight federal constituencies in Enugu State over the next two years.
“There will be three models of the Science Technical and Vocational schools. The first model will focus on science and technology to train young people who have no job,” he added.
Mbah said that they would train them in the areas of emerging technology, preparing them to be ready for industralisation.
”The focus areas is robotics, mechatronics, coding, programming, ICT, and others with the objective of getting these young people ready.
According to him, the other model is the School of Building and Architecture which he said students will learn all components of building from bricklaying to electricals, plumbing, roofing, among others.
“The third model is the Science Technical and Vocational School of Industrial Agriculture,” he said.
Mbah said the government’s plan to build a smart green school at the GTC, Enugu, premises to ensure easy pathway to science, technical and vocational education in the same environment for the students.
The initiative, he said, reflected the administration’s 33 per cent allocation to the education sector in the Enugu State 2024 budget.
Meanwhile, the Principal of GTC, Mr Christopher Isife, described the STV School project at GTC as a “game changer” for the long forgotten and dilapidated institution.
“It has never been better in the past years of our existence as a college, but today, the governor has come to wipe away our tears,” he said. (NAN)