FG moves to make agricultural education 80% practical

The federal government has approved a new approach to agricultural education that will increase practical training in tertiary institutions from 30 per cent to 80 per cent.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the reform in Abuja on Thursday while receiving the report of the National Implementation Committee on the Review and Development of Agricultural Curricula for Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria.

Under the revised curricula, only 20 per cent of training will be devoted to theory, marking a major departure from the previous 70 per cent theoretical and 30 per cent practical model.

Alausa said the reform was aimed at equipping Nigerian youths with practical skills that could be applied directly to agricultural production and other economic activities.

“The ultimate objective is to ensure that young Nigerians acquire practical skills that can be applied beyond the classroom,” the minister said.

He said the new model would help transform agriculture into a skills-driven sector, strengthen the workforce and create more opportunities for young Nigerians to participate productively in agriculture.

According to him, the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to agricultural development and the skills acquisition objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Alausa, however, said curriculum development alone would not guarantee the success of the reform, stressing the need to prepare teachers and institutions for the increased practical component.