An Assessment of Siwes Implementation in Line with Educational Reforms in Nigeria
ABSTRACT
This paper titled “An Assessment of SIWES Implementation in Line with Educational Reforms in Nigeria” reviewed the functions of the various actors saddled with the responsibility of implementing the Students Industrial work Experience Scheme (SIWES). It concludes that although the scheme is not defective in design, its implementation still leaves much to be desired. It particularly identified the placement of students, payment of student allowances, inadequate supervision, and lack of tailor-made training programmes as some of the problems preventing an effective implementation of the scheme. There is also the fear that the scheme may be scrapped for NCE students as contained in the proposed reform agenda of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE)/Industrial Training Fund (ITF). Appropriate recommendations were made to make the laudable objectives of the scheme achievable.
INTRODUCTION
The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) was designed in 1973 by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) as a placement programme for students of engineering, technology and other allied disciplines in Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges with the major aim of bridging identified gaps between theories taught in schools and actual practices in the field.
The specific objectives of the scheme according to ITF (2004) are to:
i. Provide an avenue for students in institutions of higher learning to acquire industrial skills and experience in their fields of study especially in the engineering and allied fields. ii. Prepare students for work methods and techniques in handling equipments and machinery that may not be available in educational institutions; iii. Ease the transition from school to world of work and enhance students’ contact for later job placement; iv. Provide opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in real work situations thereby bridging the gap between theory and practice; and
v. Enlist and strengthen employers’
This paper titled “An Assessment of SIWES Implementation in Line with Educational Reforms in Nigeria” reviewed the functions of the various actors saddled with the responsibility of implementing the Students Industrial work Experience Scheme (SIWES). It concludes that although the scheme is not defective in design, its implementation still leaves much to be desired. It particularly identified the placement of students, payment of student allowances, inadequate supervision, and lack of tailor-made training programmes as some of the problems preventing an effective implementation of the scheme. There is also the fear that the scheme may be scrapped for NCE students as contained in the proposed reform agenda of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE)/Industrial Training Fund (ITF). Appropriate recommendations were made to make the laudable objectives of the scheme achievable.
INTRODUCTION
The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) was designed in 1973 by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) as a placement programme for students of engineering, technology and other allied disciplines in Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges with the major aim of bridging identified gaps between theories taught in schools and actual practices in the field.
The specific objectives of the scheme according to ITF (2004) are to:
i. Provide an avenue for students in institutions of higher learning to acquire industrial skills and experience in their fields of study especially in the engineering and allied fields. ii. Prepare students for work methods and techniques in handling equipments and machinery that may not be available in educational institutions; iii. Ease the transition from school to world of work and enhance students’ contact for later job placement; iv. Provide opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in real work situations thereby bridging the gap between theory and practice; and
v. Enlist and strengthen employers’
References: Ajao, W. (2008) “Nigeria National Policy on Education (NPE) Suffers Poor Implementation”, Culled from Vanguard Newspaper of Wed. 2nd January, 2009 Egharevba, A. L. (2004) “Local Content and Technology Acquisition in the Oil and Gas Industry”, paper presented at the 9th Biennial SIWES National Conference held at Hill Station Hotel, Jos on 13-14th July, 2004 Jemerigbe, H.I. (2004) “Enhancing National Industrial Skills Acquisition Process through SIWES”, paper presented at the 9th Biennial SIWES National Conference held at Hill Station Hotel, Jos on 13-14th July, 2004 ITF (2004) Proceedings of the 9th Biennial SIWES National Conference held at Hill Station Hotel, Jos, Industrial Training Fund ITF (2006) Information and Guidelines for SIWES, Jos, Industrial Training Fund NPE (1998) National Policy on Education, Lagos, Federal Ministry of Education Nwajagu, C.O. (2004) “SIWES – A Continuum of Practical Academic Assessment” paper presented at the 9th Biennial SIWES National Conference held at Hill Station Hotel, Jos on 13-14th July, 2004 Okafor, D.N. (2004) “Reviewed Mode of Payment of SIWES Student Allowances” paper presented at the 9th Biennial SIWES National Conference held at Hill Station Hotel, Jos on 13-14th July, 2004