Educational Statistics As A Precursor To Skill Acquisition In Computer Data Processing For Self-Employment In The 21st Century Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examined educational statistics as a facilitator of computer data processing skill acquisition for self-employment in the 21^st century Nigeria. In spite of the breakthroughs in science and technology in the 21^st century leading to economic prosperity of many nations, unemployment rate is at a soaring rate in Nigeria. Evidence has shown that available job opportunities in the public and private sectors are grossly inadequate for the teeming graduates. The need to make more of the school leavers and graduates of the Nigerian tertiary educational institutions to be job creators (employers of labour or entrepreneurs) rather than job seekers has been stressed in different quarters. A substantial number of graduates of Teacher Education as a component of tertiary education are proven and successful entrepreneurs who have made significant contribution in job creation effort through the establishment of private schools across the length and breadth of Nigeria. However, there seems to be scanty or no literature that have explored skill acquisition opportunity in computer data processing for useful living. Measurement and Evaluation, and Introduction to Educational Research and Data Processing are two courses in the Teacher Education programme which impact requisite knowledge, skill and experiences to learners in educational statistics. If the knowledge, skills and experiences in educational statistics are properly harnessed, it could facilitate skill acquisition in computer data processing for useful living. It is therefore imperative for Nigeria to strengthen skill acquisition as a sustainable measure and strategy to stem the tide of unemployment among school leavers and graduates to become self-employed and job creators.