TVET & CLASS — Technical, Vocational & College-Level Skills

Transforming Education for a Skills-Driven Economy Two of ICDA's most forward-looking programs — Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and the College Level Acquired Skills Set (CLASS) — address a fundamental challenge in African development: the growing mismatch between what educational institutions produce and what the economy actually needs. TVET — Technical and Vocational Education and Training The Problem Nigeria has a large and growing network of vocational and technical schools, yet graduate employability remains low. The culprit, in most cases, is not the students — it is undertrained teachers, outdated curricula, and a persistent cultural bias against vocational work. ICDA's TVET intervention targets the supply side: the educators themselves. What We Deliver Our Teacher Training Program (TTP) equips secondary and tertiary educators with four core competencies: Curriculum delivery: Hands-on pedagogy techniques that shift classrooms from rote memorisation to skill application. Industry alignment: Regular engagement with employers to ensure taught skills match current labour market needs. Assessment design: Competency-based assessment frameworks that measure what students can actually do, not just what they can recall. Resource development: Low-cost teaching aids, digital content, and practical workshop resources that work in under-resourced environments. Trained teachers return to their institutions better equipped to inspire students and produce job-ready graduates. The multiplier effect is significant — one trained teacher reaches hundreds of students annually. CLASS — College Level Acquired Skills Set The Vision CLASS reimagines tertiary education by embedding entrepreneurial and practical skills directly into the college experience. It operates on the conviction that a university or polytechnic graduate should leave campus not just with a certificate, but with the ability to create their own economic opportunity. Program Structure CLASS modules are delivered as co-curricular enrichment programs within partner institutions. Students complete a structured skills portfolio covering business planning, digital proficiency, financial management, communication, and sector-specific enterprise skills relevant to their discipline. Upon completion, students receive a CLASS certificate — ICDA is applying for 2026 accreditation from the American Council for Training and Development (ACTD, USA), which will provide international recognition for the credential. Who Benefits CLASS is most impactful for students in science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and social science disciplines — equipping them to convert their technical knowledge into viable enterprises rather than competing for a limited pool of formal employment. How to Partner Institutions wishing to integrate TVET teacher training or CLASS modules should contact ICDA's programs team. We offer flexible partnership structures, from full institutional integration to individual cohort delivery.

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