Public Perception of Vocational and Technical Education and Youth Unemployment in Nigeria

Abstract

This study focused on the public perception of vocational and technical education and youth unemployment in Nigeria.  It assesses the perception of some Nigerian parents, students and employers who responded to the questionnaires distributed to them.  Findings revealed that vocational and technical education is not popular or known to many parents and students, while those who have knowledge about VTE have perception that  it is an educational system meant for the poor and less privilege in the society, that society does not accord enough respect and prestige to such education, certificates and jobs. Some employers of labour who responded to the questionnaire agreed that graduates of vocational and technical education possess skills for employment in labour market, while majority of them disagreed, stating that many of the graduates lack communication and managerial skills, and are not enterprising.  Findings also revealed that public perception of vocational and technical education in Nigeria is not encouraging as this manifest in low enrolment of students in technical schools, polytechnics and vocational and technical departments in the universities, leaving the nation with larger number of graduates who are not professionals but are unskilled, thereby contributing to high unemployment rate amongst Nigerian youths.