Quality Assurance in the Teaching and Examination of Vocational and Technical Education in Nigeria

The vital role of Vocational and Technical Education in the production of skilled and competent manpower for economic, industrial and social development cannot be achieved if an efficient and effective teaching and examination is not maintained. Therefore, this paper examines the objectives of Vocational and Technical Education in Nigeria, factors militating against quality teaching and examination of Vocational and Technical Education, quality assurance in the teaching and Examination of Vocational and Technical Education. Recommendations were also made to improve the quality of teaching and examination of vocational and technical education. INTRODUCTION Vocational education can be described as the aspect of education, which is concerned, with the preparation of skilled manpower. It is a form of Education, training or retraining which is directed towards developing the learner to become productive in a paid employment or in self-employment. It is therefore the bedrock in which a country's socio--economic, technological and cultural advancement must be built. Sandstone (1973) reported that Vocational Education enhances opportunities for all types of learning. This type of education has the economic role of providing qualified manpower demanded by changing the individual and in enabling him to use complex technology. The emphasis therefore, is not only on the provision of skilled manpower for a static economy but also continuing to do so for a dynamic one, especially with changing societal needs for technological advancement. To achieve the national objectives, and the objectives of vocational and technical education in Nigeria there is the need to ensure good quality in the teaching and evaluation of students is crucial to helping students in high academic standards, improving of quality and examination of vocational and technical education has become very necessary because most people who pass through training in this type of education are unable to perform adequately as they ought to, unemployment has become so rampart, and poverty has engulf most of them. In order to ensure high quality in the teaching and examination, and improved learning in vocational and technical education. It is essential that the children, have opportunities to learn from teachers whom they meet, and continue to demonstrate throughout their career, rigorous professional standards. The attainment of high standard of teaching and examination is an on-going process that deals with pre-service education, initial credentialing, monitoring, professional development and re-certification. The overall goal of quality teaching and examination in vocational education is to improve opportunities for high quality learning which evaluated through performance. Vocational and technical education has the following functions: The functions as stated in the new National policy on education (1981) include the following: 1. To provide manpower in applied science, technology and commerce particularly at sub-professional levels. 2. To provide the Technical knowledge and vocational skills necessary for Agriculture, Industrial, Commercial, and economic development. 3. To provide people who can apply scientific knowledge to the improvement and solution of environmental problems for the convenience of man. 4. To give an introduction to professional studies in engineering and other technologies. 5. To give training and impart the necessary skills leading to the production of craftsmen, technicians, and other skilled personnel who will be enterprising and self-reliant, and to enable young men and women to have an intelligent understanding of the increasing complexity of technology. Vocational and technical education cannot function properly unless there is high quality in the teaching and examination of student in vocational and technical education. With the introduction of the new national policy on education, namely the 6-3-3-4 system, teachers, students and even the public at large have become aware of the need to develop necessary usable skills required to operate our various industries. …