Write an article for publication in a national newspaper on the topic: Vocational training is the answer to unemployment among youths.
Governments around the world are realizing that vocational training is the answer to unemployment among the youth. Every year, many young people graduate from tertiary institutions across the country. Most of them immediately enter the job market, where they spend a great deal of time looking for white-collar jobs. A few are successful, but the majority are left unemployed, depressed, and without a means of taking care of themselves.
Aside from the courses they studied in the university which include, history, geography, philosophy, banking and finance, accounting, nursing, guidance and counseling, agricultural science, and many others, these recent graduates often do not have any other skills. Their knowledge is usually theoretical and not practical. It is sometimes the case that someone who studied Computer Science may not have had access to a computer laboratory for the duration of his four-year program.
This category of university graduates has no option but to accept any job that comes their way, including those they are not qualified to do. The majority end up jobless; contributing to the already dire unemployment situation in the country.
Unemployment among youths does not occur with university graduates alone. Due to the bad economy of the country, many parents are financially handicapped to sustain their children through tertiary education. This results in ill-equipped and unemployable youths roaming in droves in the urban areas. Young people are naturally energetic and curious. Therefore, if their energy and curiosity are not channeled in the proper direction, they may find ways and means themselves, some of which may be illegal.
The present era requires individuals to be knowledgeable in one practical skill or the other. This gives the ability to self-sustain. If someone cannot get employment, that person can become self-employed through his skills.
This is where vocational training comes in as the answer to unemployment among youth. Young people should learn skills such as welding, plumbing, electrical wiring, farming, hairdressing, tailoring, and internet-related skills, among others. Such training will equip the learner with practical knowledge to earn a living for himself. In return, the number of unemployed youths in the country will drastically reduce. Criminality and associated vices would become a rare occurrence as the youths will be occupied with their new jobs to fall prey to temptation.
In summary, developed countries recognize the importance of practical skills and often reward those who have this knowledge with generous payments as wages. A plumber in developed countries earns enough money to live a comfortable life, therefore vocational skills should not be looked down upon.
The government of the country should set up more vocational training centers, equip them properly, and provide remuneration that is good enough to keep the trainers and their students.
An enlightenment campaign should also be carried out to educate citizens on the importance of acquiring vocational skills. The public service announcement should also discourage people from looking down on vocational skills and change the mindset that education is only about going to the university. Education has many areas among which is vocational training, a system that is the answer to unemployment among youth.
Conclusion
The above is from the 2010 WAEC English language essay writing examination. You can read other past WAEC essay questions and answers to familiarize more with WAEC-type questions. Don’t forget to also study examples of letter writing questions and answers as well as comprehension and summary questions from previous WAEC examinations.
Kindly share the above with people who may find it useful, thank you. Join us on our social media pages below where we always have one fun quiz, promo, giveaway, and questionnaire to educate and entertain.