The national occupational standards (NOS) helps improve the technical capacity of artisans and skilled workers as well boost micro businesses. In Nigeria, there are several certification processes hindering the efficient implementation NOS. There is the trade test, the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) certificate, and the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF). There is also the problem of acceptance of the NSQF by companies and industries in Nigeria.
The NOS process still needs a lot of advocacy amongst the relevant stakeholder groups in Nigeria. SKYE has already taken the initiatives of reviewing five out of the eight standards developed over six years ago. Content has been reviewed to reflect demand driven training and orientation. However, a consultation workshop will be necessary to engage both the private and the public sectors to discuss the current review for effective curriculum implementation.
Between 22 and 23 October 2019 SKYE and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) organised a workshop to review five occupational standards in construction trades which included: carpentry, masonry, tiling, plumbing, painting and decoration.
The review workshop had the support of an international construction specialist, Dr Rainer Gerke, to support the re-phrasing of the performance criteria (PCs) and the corresponding learning outcomes (Los) including the guided learning hours for each standard.
The review workshop was attended by Dr. Mas’ud Kazaure the executive secretary of the national board for technical education, Dr. A.D.K Mohammed, director technical and vocational education and the coordinator of the national skills qualifications, engineer Yusuf Suleiman. The endorsement and final approval of the reviewed copies are expected at the next NBTE governing council meeting before the end of the first quarter of 2020.
