IMPLEMENTING VOCATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING AMONG RURAL WOMEN FOR EQUAL ACCESS TO QUALITATIVE EDUCATION

Every citizen of a nation has the right to learn and be educated adequately in order to contribute adequately towards the continuous growth of the society. This is in line with the declaration in Jomtein, Thailand in 1990, and re-affirmed in Dakar Senegal in 2000, ensuring that educational opportunities be extended to all without exception by 2015, (FRN, 2004).But in spite of this, available data shows that a large segment of Nigerian population, about (18.7 million), comprising mostly women are yet to have unhindered access to education or adequate education. This paper reviews formal education which is hitherto exclusive, rather than inclusive, elitist and discriminatory, which alone cannot provide the all-round education needed for achieving harmonious societal development and transformation. The paper therefore calls for inclusion of vocational skill training alongside former education, to give women most especially in the rural areas access to qualitative education.