By Felix Khanoba
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has urged lecturers in charge of career centres at colleges of education to develop modern technological skills and impart this knowledge to students.
This initiative aims to make graduates more competitive and employable on a global scale.
Arc. Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, highlighted this during a one-day workshop titled “Emerging Areas of Students Needs in Beneficiary Institutions,” organised by TETFund on Tuesday in Abuja.
“Training ourselves in new ways is crucial,” Echono stated. “Old methods are becoming obsolete. Equip your students with modern communication skills so they can compete globally with their peers.”
TETFund introduced the Career Services Centre in the 2024 disbursement cycle to support various programs in tertiary institutions.
Echono emphasized that these centres are essential for career development and employability, echoing practices in advanced nations where such services help students make informed career decisions.
The workshop aimed to brainstorm on key intervention areas beneficial to institutions and students. Echono noted that career centers provide vital information on job market trends, opportunities, necessary skills, and connections with industries and alumni. They also offer tools for self-assessment, career counseling, guidance, and support.
Echono mentioned a recent communication from the Federal Ministry of Education regarding a Presidential directive for TETFund to support teaching practice. This includes recommendations from the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission for a teaching practice allowance covering Faculties of Education in universities. He stressed the need for harmonization between the methodologies of TETFund and the Salaries and Wages Commission to ensure shared acceptance and effective implementation.
Dr. Smart Olugbeko, National President of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), commended TETFund for implementing career centers but highlighted concerns about the employability of students.
He urged that career centers should focus on preparing students for the job market.
Olugbeko emphasized the importance of skilled personnel at career centers to provide students with practical industry and societal engagement. He also called for uniformity in infrastructure across institutions to ensure functional career centers.
Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, expressed gratitude for TETFund’s interventions. He stressed the need for comprehensive counseling that goes beyond career choices to fitting into various educational career paths.
Okwelle also noted that colleges are now empowered by law to run degree programs in addition to training teachers for basic education.
