The purpose of education is to develop the individual so that he can be useful to himself and his people. In order to serve the nation well, individual citizens must acquire the basic knowledge, skills and competencies required to supply the nation's manpower needs. Manpower development is the process in which citizens are provided the knowledge, skills and competencies for gainful employment or for higher employment.
Present government efforts provide such development for students and for those who are already employed in forms of refresher courses. Our present philosophy of education express a vision for the Nigeria society of the future. This is a society which will be self reliant and dynamic. The philosophical question therefore becomes: what kind of knowledge should be provided so that citizens will have the necessary skills to use in achieving this social goal?.
Today, Government's efforts are directed towards the teaching of Science and Technology. This is to ensure that by the end of this century, Nigeria emerges "a great and self - reliant nation." This is the focus of the current National Policy on Education and the 6-3-3-4 education system derived from it. A nation that depends on the technologically advanced countries for the supply of her manpower needs, particularly in the area of science and technology, cannot be great.
That is why the efforts of the present Nigerian Government to solve its manpower problems through adequate investment in science and technological education is highly commendable. Guidance Counsellors and the classroom teacher have important roles to play here. You must let your pupils know the important of science and technology in manpower development. Tell those who have the talent for science and technology to work hard and study it to the highest limit of their academic ability.
They should then come back and serve the nation. But you must not make the mistake of pushing into the science class children who would have done better in the languages, Arts or Social Sciences. The country needs the services of a variety of experts, that is specialists in various subjects or disciplines, including teachers alike. So, try and guide your pupils into the disciplines in which they have the best chances of success, the ones in which they are most interested and most capable in class.
SUMMARY
In Nigeria, Government efforts at solving its manpower problems are directed towards the teaching of science and technology in schools. It is true that advancement in science and technology can help a country to develop her manpower. But this alone is not enough, specialists in other disciplines are no needed to provide manpower for the nation. For example, we need teachers, accountants, lawyers, and doctors, among others. Teachers must encourage their pupils to study at a higher level only those subjects which they know very well so that they can success in them and use their knowledge to serve the nation in various capacities. They need not be compelled to study Science and Technology.
Thank you for your time.