Benue to convert junior secondary schools to vocational institutions

The Benue state government says it will convert some junior secondary schools to vocational institutions to enhance skills acquisition among youths.

Philip Tachin, executive chairman, Benue universal basic education board, who announced this on Thursday in Makurdi, said that the conversion would take off by the next academic session.

“We have already engaged young graduates and experienced hands to handle the training of those to be admitted into the skills acquisition institutions,” Tachin told NAN.

He named some of the schools to be converted to include the two Federal Government Girls’ Junior Secondary Schools at Gbatse and Gbajimba, in Ushongo and Guma local government areas.

“The two schools will be converted to Universal Basic Education Vocational Junior Secondary Schools,” he said.

According to him, the two schools were built by the federal government and handed over to the Benue government.

He said that the government would continue to explore avenues through which children would be taught regular subjects alongside vocational skills to enable them acquire some expertise that would make them self-employed.

“We want to ensure that students not lucky to progress further will not be disadvantaged,” he said.