Wale Jagun & Mariam Akinloye with Austin Onah (SIWES Student)
-Students share their skill acquisition experiences
Kith & Kin Educational Schools (KKES), one of the leading schools in Lagos State, have, once again, proved their capacity in inculcating complete education in their students, with the successful hosting of another Vocational Technical and Entrepreneurship (VTE) programme.
The initiative, which the schools have been running since 2016, is aimed at allowing learners to acquire practical skills relevant to their chosen trades, thereby, enhancing employability and entrepreneurship potentials.
The special event, tagged, ‘Vocational Technical Entrepreneurial Exhibition and Competition’, was themed, ‘Think Skill, Acquire Skill’, held at the KKES Sports Complex, on Thursday, brought together students, teachers, school management and invited guests, with the school showcasing hand products of their students, which emphasised the importance of skill acquisition in today’s rapidly evolving world.
While the school showcasing secondary school students’ talents in the areas of Food and Catering, Fashion Designing, Information Technology, Hairdressing, Electronics Electrical, Design and Technology, Agriculture, the Kith & Kin Nursery and Primary Schools (KKNPS) and Kith and Kin Montessori Schools (KKMS) pupils exhibited skills in Fine Arts, Auto Mechanics, Creative Writing, and KKKBS engaged in Coding and Robotics, Website Design, Graphic Designing, Content Creation and Medics.
Mr Oregbesan Julius, Principal, Kith & Kin International College, setting the tone for the special occasion, said that hands -on curriculum is a practical and experimental approach to teaching and learning which engages students actively in the learning process.
“One major significance of Hands -on Curriculum is that it enhances students’ understanding and retention of knowledge. When learners are actively involved in performing tasks, they tend to remember concepts better than when they only listen or read about them. Practical experiences reinforce classroom lessons and make abstract ideas tangible.
“This approach promotes critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills-competencies that are essential in today’s dynamic world.
“Furthermore, Hands-on Learning nurtures student’s confidence and independence. By engaging directly in projects, experiments, skill-based activities, students learn to take initiatives, make decisions, and evaluate outcomes.
“It also fosters teamwork and communication as learners often collaborate on group tasks. This builds interpersonal skill and sense of responsibility that prepares them for future challenges in the workplace and society”, the school principal said.
KKES Chief Learning Officer (CLO), Asiwjau Kaoli Olusanya, speaking at the event, said that the focus is to build students’ capacity and provide alternative sources of income for them in addition to what they intend to specializ in, after their university education.
“The event we are having here today is a special event. I called it vocational, technical, and extra general skill education.
“The objective of this is to teach the students that in future, the paper certificate will not be enough, for a successful adult life, and that in addition to whatever course they read, they need to have skills.
“This process is designed to inform, sensitise, and empower them for their tomorrow. While they are preparing for their SSCE or NECO examinations while in school, they can also get engaged at any vocational centre near their homes during vacation, to get further knowledge in any skill of their choice”.
Asiwaju Kaoli emphasised that, “It is the practical life that they will meet tomorrow. In the real world, a paper certificate will not be enough. It now depends on what you can do with your hand; what imagination do you have about tomorrow. That is what we are trying to teach them”.
The educationist added that the school is assisting its students discover their talents through skill and vocational education.
The Chief Executive Officer, Oshodi Art Gallery, Ikorodu, Dr. Seyi Paul Oshodi, who narrated his own life story and how he put in for relevant subjects for Law programme to please his father, and Arts to please himself in his JAMB examination, and eventually, the worth of his skills as an artist, emphasised the importance of skill acquisition.
“Today’s topic, which is skills acquisition, is very important to me, because I believe it is the next level for our society. We are not saying education is not important, of course, it is, but acquiring skills is equally essential for human development.
“As we all can see, job opportunities are scarce in our country today. However, with the right skills, you can build yourself up and even create employment for others. I am a living example of that”, he said.
He enjoined parents to encourage their children and wards to pursue their interest in skills if they so wished.
Professor Dare Abel Oladepo, Dean of Environmental Design & Technology, Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), who said that he engaged in drawing and painting while growing up, told his audience, mostly students, that it was his mother that encouraged him to pursue his callings.
He emphasised the importance of skill, while stating that no matter the advancement of technology in the form of Artificial Intelligence (AI), it can never supplant creativity.
“Before I talk about the future of professions, I want to remind us that no matter how advanced technology or artificial intelligence (AI) becomes, it can never replace creativity or human skill. Your creativity and your skill are part of your life. They belong to you and cannot be taken away.
“We must continue to develop our skills, because no one is ever too old to learn something new. Personally, even as an architect, I also learned to be a mechanic. I can repair my own car. That is the power of being skillful.
“Today, I am a professor, but I still practice my skills. This shows that being educated does not mean you should forget your talent or practical abilities.
“So, I want to encourage all parents, help your children discover and develop their skills. Education is important, but skills make a person self-reliant and productive”, he charged.
Some of the students that spoke with THE IMPACT, shared their experiences.
Amobi Angel, a JSS 3 student in the school, learnt about principles in planning an event and she was thankful for the opportunity.
“I learnt that event planning is not just partying alone, or just arranging your decorations. Event planning deals with time management, self-discipline, and self-esteem. It also helps in team work creativity.
“I learnt to have more self -esteem in event planning, discipline, and time management, and the need to develop sense of team work.
“To the CLO of the school and ED, thank you, because they are training us to be our best self. God bless them”, she said.
Ireoluwa Afolabi, a student of Kith and Kin International College, who engaged in agricultural skills, also speaking with our reporters, said:
“I specialised in plant: planting of bananas. That is what we are doing for now, and I have learnt how to grow plantain and banana properly. This is to ensure that a farmer gets a good profit and gets maximum output from it”.
Speaking on the process, he said: “My agricultural teacher makes me do the planting sometimes and I am responsible for the harvesting”.
“I want to appreciate the CLO of the school and my tutor, for helping us and giving me this opportunity to know about this, because, at home, I even plant something, and I plan to start a business in agriculture later in life”, he revealed.
Also sharing her experience, Apkan Maris, a student of Kith and Kin International College, who is into hairdressing, emphasised the need for parents to allow their children to decide on what they want to do in future.
She added, “The challenge is that it is stressful when making hair. Sometimes, you have to stand while making hair, depending on the hair style you are doing. I have learnt how to braid hair, tinning weaving, twisting, and create different styles while making hair.
“I want to say a very big thank you to Kith and Kin International College and to my tutor, Mrs Blessing. I want to say thank you for encouraging me and putting me through”, the appreciative student said.
Ogunlewe Favour, also speaking said: “I am learning fashion designing, and the process is interesting. During this process, you have to put your mind there, if not, you will make mistakes and you must also check if the machine is in good condition. And while cutting the cloth too, someone needs to be careful so that you will not cut the wrong side.
“The challenge I faced was when cutting cloth, I usually feel confused, and also get discouraged if the machine is not working very well”.
Okunade Adefariola, who learnt Information Technology (IT), also stating his own experience, said:
“I faced challenges during this process. I was unable to create JAVA, but with the help of my friend, David, I was able to do that.
“I learnt about app creation and how to invest in it.
“To my school, thank you for giving me this opportunity to showcase my talents”, he said.
At the event, recognition awards were presented the VTE partners by the school.
