Education is the foundation of every society; it traverses the future and the development and growth of a nation’s economy. This is why transitioning from classroom to career is very significant.
This write-up recognises that as the world progresses in terms of education and employability, it is imperative that students in Nigeria offer their best in the work environment. However, this is not always easy, and many issues prevail that interfere with students’ achievement of their dreams and success in their chosen fields.
A central issue in the social learning processes of Nigerian students for achieving personal/professional development and transition from the campus to the corporate world is that there is a mismatch between what the conventional education system offers and what the working environment requires.
The formal learning system prevalent in Nigerian institutions also lacks practicability as it relies heavily on book knowledge rather than skills and competence that will help learners solve real-life problems.
Consequently, many students can be confronted with various challenges and oddities relative to the issue of competency.
Challenges in Education
1. Quality of Education
This discourse has followed changes in educational policies and systems in Nigeria for several years. Challenges like lack of structures, incompetent teachers, outdated curriculum, and lack of multiplicity of educational resources hinder students’ acquisition of knowledge and skills required in the workplace.
2. Lack of Supply of Courses with the demand from the Industry
It is a common fact that students, after finishing their education and going out to find a job, may realise that the skills they developed in the classroom may not be as useful in the workplace.
Graduates are often inexperienced in their fields of study, unaware of solutions and strategies to marketable problems or challenges, and inept in many soft skills such as verbal and written communication skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, which limits their chances of employability or of advancing in their careers after gaining employment.
3. Unemployment and Underemployment
This is a problem in Nigeria because the percentage rate of unemployment and under-employment is considerably high, and many university graduates are not able to secure employment in their respective areas of specialisation.
This results in increased frustration, crushed dreams, and a lack of utilisation of talents among the youths.
4. Lack of Career Guidance and Mentorship
One of the major concerns students have raised is that high schools do not offer adequate career guidance and mentoring to the learners.
Most students are unable to find adequate career information and advice, and career information planning and advisory services are crucial in helping students gain knowledge of specific careers, admission requirements and opportunities, goal setting and coping with the challenges of the marketplace.
When students do not get the support they need, they may not know their aptitudes, passions, or professions.
Strategies for the Educational System in Nigeria
To bridge this gap and better prepare Nigerian students for success in their careers, several strategies can be implemented at various levels of the educational system:
1. Academic Reform Curriculum to Fit Industrial Needs
Another crucial phase that must be followed while educating Nigerian students for their overall career success is the need for curriculum review in institutions that would meet current trends and job market requirements.
This means ensuring that the program offered at a particular institution, for example, involves internships, simulations, and other forms of applied learning.
How training is delivered focuses on problem-solving abilities, and creativity and critical thinking are encouraged.
2. Promote Technical Education and Employability Training
Education should provide opportunities for vocational training and skills acquisition so that the students can listen, understand, and go on the field and do what employers are looking for in job markets.
Educational programs that focus on technical and vocational training, innovation, and other practical fields will equip young people to be effective in the job market.
3. The Principle of Promoting Career Guidance and Counselling
Career guidance and counselling remain essentials for helping students make the right decisions about their career choices. By offering direction on careers, skills, and current market trends, students are better equipped for their future endeavours by the time they are out of school.
4. Promote Internship and Work Placement Programmes
Work experience through internships and work placements facilitates training students on the expectations and realities of actual work environments.
Such programs provide opportunities for the students to apply the acquired knowledge to real-life situations, obtain insights about desired specialisations, and build valuable networks with colleagues in the relevant field.
5. Strengthen Soft Skills Development
Apart from hard skills, other important qualities that enhance workplace effectiveness include interpersonal skills such as mode of communication, work interphase, leadership, and versatility.
Therefore, the combination of soft skill training alongside training on hard technical skills provides a higher opportunity for employability in the job market.
6. Collaboration with Industry Partners
Engaging industry partners as participants in the academic processes, consultants, and guest speakers could also assist in transferring advanced knowledge and experience between the academic environment and the working world.
Such interactions with industry partners can also result in internship placements, employment, and overall employment prospects.
7. Promote Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation in the school curriculum would enhance creativity, problem-solving skills, and an entrepreneurial attitude among students.
Also, through supporting student ventures, business incubation for entrepreneurs, and innovation centres, Nigerian students can continue to unlock the opportunities for economic growth and development that entrepreneurship offers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the development of strategies that enhance relevance and applicability in the job market, as well as foster students’ capacity, needs, and disposition to respond effectively to emerging opportunities in the job market, must be of utmost importance to emerging trends.
As a result, through curriculum reform for students, vocational training and skill acquisition, career guidance and counselling, internship placements, soft skills development, Industry-education partnership, entrepreneurial skills, innovation, and creativity, Nigerian students can be equipped to be effective in their distinct careers.
This way, Nigeria will be able to develop a high-quality and skilled workforce, well-equipped to address challenges and support positive change in the country in the future.
