RESTRUCTURING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION TOWARDS ACHIEVING 2030 EDUCATION AGENDA FOR INDUSTRIALIZATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
Abstract
It has been observed that science and technology (S&T) policies have not been a critical determinant of national development performance in Nigeria. Also, that Nigeria has not fully realized its national objectives of S&T-driven rapid industrialization and development. It is in recognition of this fact that this paper is intended to stimulate discussion and recommendations related to why have science and technology education failed in its industrialization cum economic development objectives? Through extensive review of literatures, the paper recognizes that all is not well within science and technology education and that there are concerns related to its vision, its philosophy, its research, its approach, its teaching methodology and most definitely its way of meeting needs. It therefore recognizes that science and technology education must do more than simply pay „lip service‟ to industrialization for sustainable development and must focus learning on issues of relevance facing society. In order to reduce poverty and to achieve equitable and sustainable development, we have to develop industries that provide increased employment opportunities for all citizens. Therefore, the development of labor- intensive industries ought to be a central theme of development economics and a central focus of development policies. As a result of this, the paper identified some strategies for restructuring science and technology education in achieving 2030 education agenda for industrialization and sustainable development.