Formal Education Certificates Versus Skill Acquisition Learning, Which?

By Richard Akpan

Across Nigeria and beyond, the possession of sabiticate or certificates-earned through formal education or through skill acquisition-is beginning to define the professional prospects and economic empowerment of individuals.

Consequently, formal education and skills acquisition have become the twin engines driving personal and national development, and as the job market continues to evolve, these two distinct but complementary forms of training are shaping the future of young people.

While Certificate epitomises acquisition of theoretical educational qualification, Sabiticate on the other hand, represents Skill Acquisition obtained or acquired through hands-on-training. While both complement each other, the latter seems to be gaining more traction at the workplace.

Formal Education Certificates: The Pillars of Academic Achievement

A certificate represents the formal recognition of academic attainment. It is awarded upon the successful completion of structured learning programmes in recognised institutions at all levels. These include the Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE), National Certificate in Education (NCE), Ordinary National Diploma (OND), Higher National Diploma (HND), and Bachelor’s Degree Certificates.

These are the foundation for intellectual growth and are often prerequisites for entry into higher academic pursuits – Masters and PhDs, or entry into formal employment. They emphasize theoretical knowledge, critical thinking, and discipline-specific understanding.

But as economies shift towards innovation and entrepreneurship, educational certificates alone are increasingly seen as insufficient or inadequate to address the practical realities of the modern workforce.

Skill Acquisition Certificates: Instruments of Practical Empowerment

In contrast, a skill acquisition certificate – Sabiticate– recognises proficiency in practical and vocational skills. These types of certificates are typically obtained from technical colleges, vocational training centres, or government-supported empowerment programmes.

This is where TVET-a programme currently on the radar of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) becomes very important and timely. Even though the initiative seems to have come after its time, it is better late than never as training areas of these programmes may include tailoring, catering, hairdressing, electrical installation, automobile repair, computer technology, plumbing, carpentry, fashion design, etc.

One may ask, of what use is skill acquisition since individuals have already spent four to five years in conventional educational institutions to acquire academic certificates? In response, skill acquisition programmes equip individuals with hands-on abilities that foster self-employment, innovation, and productivity.

These are the elements lacking in the conventional academic institutions, and are particularly vital in addressing the high rate of youth unemployment by promoting entrepreneurship and reducing dependence on white-collar jobs. Recipients of these certificates can establish thriving enterprises, thereby contributing significantly to national economic growth, and providing the much needed employment opportunities for the teaming youth population.

The Need for Balance and Integration

In handling both Certificate and Sabiticate, it is important to state that while academic certificates develop intellectual and theoretical capacities, skill acquisition certificates cultivate creativity and practical competence. Therefore, for sustainable development, both must coexist in harmony. Governments and educational policymakers should increasingly advocate for the integration of skill acquisition into formal curricula-a move designed to produce well-rounded graduates.

A closer look at Dewey Decimal Classification System of books in the library, Class 500 is immediately followed by Class 600, Class 500 details books in the Pure Sciences while Class 600 details books in the Applied Sciences. Class 500 represents educational pursuit in conventional academic institutions, whereas Class 600 stands for skill acquisition at vocational or skill acquisition centres. Common knowledge here shows that Certificates and Sabiticates are meant to complement each other with none of the two claiming superiority.

It is an indisputable fact that in the 21st-century economy, the most successful individuals are often those who possess both academic qualifications and practical skills. This enables adaptability in an ever-changing job market, and fosters innovation across industries. Imagine a driver with a driver’s License without ever touching a car steering.

With such a driver on the wheel, it is certain that a disaster is waiting to happen within the first five. This seems to be the situation when employing a fresh graduate leading to the employer or government agency spending scarce resources to get the fresh employee to become employable. This has nothing to do work orientation often given to a newly employed staff.

Conclusion

The debate between formal education and skill acquisition is not a contest of superiority but a call for complementarity-with both paths leading toward empowerment and progress. The key lies in recognising that education without skill is incomplete, while skill without knowledge is limited.

Let’s pick an example. Moving round the city one can see a clear example of two sign writers-the first one is only a Sabiticate holder while the other holds both Certificate and Sabiticate. The Sabiticate holder writes, Buy Your Spear Parts Here, while the Certificate and Sabiticate holder writes, Buy Your Spare Parts Here.

The difference is crystal clear.  Certificates, whether academic or vocational, remain vital instruments for personal advancement and national progress. True empowerment lies not merely in holding a certificate but in possessing the knowledge and ability to apply it productively.

As Nigeria and other developing nations strive toward economic diversification and technological advancement, the synergy between formal education and skill acquisition must continue to define the future of work, entrepreneurship, and human capital development.

Richard Akpan is the former Head, Information And Communications Technology, National Institute For Nigerian Languages, Aba, Abia State.