The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Staff School, Jos says it has introduced entrepreneurial skills acquisition programme to prepare its students for self-reliance after graduation.
Its Principal, Mrs. Ekong Ndidiamaka, on Monday in Jos said that the programme would give the students the early start that would prepare them for realities in the larger world.
The principal said that the students were being exposed to practical agriculture on school farms, as well as other entrepreneurial skills to ease diversification.
“We train some students on the production of soap, disinfectants and detergents, while others acquire skills on crop farming. We do not want them to start waiting for non-existent jobs after graduation,” she said.
Ndidiamaka said that the school was also sensitising the students on the ills of pre-marital sex and drug abuse because the twin vices had always constituted major obstacles to progress.
On the school’s academic performance over the years, she said that the students had been “wonderful”, and particularly cited the 2016/2017 Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) where the school recorded 90 per cent success.
“The UTME performance was equally amazing, with more than 90 per cent of the candidates scoring above the 180 cut off mark,” she said.
The principal attributed the encouraging performance to teachers’ resilience, the enabling environment provided by the management of ITF and the students’ passion for knowledge.
She said that the school recently marked its 25 years of existence with the launch of the maiden edition of the school’s magazine `The Trail blazer’, which featured contributions from the children.
“The magazine also encouraged students to horn their skills in writing and reading, two skills gradually being eroded in the society.
“The students were encouraged to make their contributions through research on specific issues. We have also insisted that every student must read the magazine because we want them to imbibe the culture of reading and writing.”
Ndidiamaka urged the management of ITF to provide a well-equipped technical and vocational centre, language laboratory, music studio and upgrade the science laboratories.
She also called for more training opportunities for teachers to enhance their performance.
