SCIENCE AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION: TOOLS FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Science and technical education in Nigeria are facing challenges as a result retarding national development. Nigerian educational institutions are producing graduates without adequate acquisition of scientific and technical skills that can pave the way for self-reliant or job opportunities for socio-economic progress. The rate of unemployment rate in Nigeria has seriously increased to 33.5% in 2022 while the number of Nigerians living in poverty is 14.7 percent (%) from the 2018/2019 figure of 82.1 million to the projected 95.1 million in 2022. This paper examines science and technical education as tools for national development. It further discusses the concepts, roles and challenges of science and technical education in Nigeria. It recommended among others that science and technical education policies should be adequately implemented by government to achieve the objectives of national development.