ASSESSMENT OF TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS REQUIRED FOR MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING CRAFT STUDENTS FOR MAINTAINING MECHANICAL
MACHINES IN GOVERNMENT TECHNICAL
COLLEGES IN RIVERS STATE.
by
ONUOTU CHRISTIAN , NOKARA VICTOR IBEZE&
OLUMBA THANKGOD H.
Abstract
Assessment of Technological Skills Required for Mechanical Engineering Craft Students
for Maintaining Mechanical Machines in Government Technical Colleges in Rivers State
is aimed at determining the extent to which students have acquired practical skills before
graduation. The study adopted survey research design. The population for this study
comprises65 respondents, made up of 40 Mechanical engineering craft teachers and 25
Mechanical engineering craft instructors. The study answered two research questions and
tested two hypotheses. The instrument comprising of practical skills items or operations
based on NBTEcurriculum and NABTEB syllabus were developed and validated by three
experts. Data collected were analyzed using statistical mean, Standard deviation and t-test.
The result of the study showed that the mechanical engineering craftsmen experience
unemployment not because the industries are saturated but because the current practical
skillsthey have acquiredare no longer in consonance with current practicesin the industries.
Based on this result, it wasrecommended amongst others that Mechanical engineering craft
teachers should endeavour to use the improved teaching techniques to enhance students
practical skill acquisition as a guidefor teaching the practical skill units so as to improve
the quality of instruction and enhance adequate content coverage of the curriculum. The
teaching of machine tools operations by mechanical engineering craft teachers should be
guided by a well-defined specific objectives and relevant learning experiences and
activities.
Keywords:Practicalskills;Assessment, Mechanical, engineering, craft, Technology
Introduction
The role of technical, vocational education and training (TVET) in facilitating
employment opportunities should not be neglected in Nigeria, as it has the potential to
enhance job creation, wealth generation, poverty reduction and technological
transformation, which could help to minimize insecurity in the nation which unemployment
and poverty usually breed. As Nigerians’ currently face many challenges ranging from
economic challenges, social- cultural challenges, developmental challenges, insecurity,
among others, technical vocationaleducation and training (TVET) could serve as one of the
ways to address these problems. It was established in Nigeria to impart skills and
entrepreneurial spirit needed to create wealth and enhance the economic development of
the nation. The aim of establishing technical vocationaleducation and training was not only
to activate the unemployed in an attempt to reconnect them with the labour market and
reduce overall level of unemployment, but also to activate the economically inactive.
According to Obidile (2018), TVET is mostly offered in Universities of Technology,
Colleges of Technology,
Onuotu Christian N., Federal College of Education (Tech.) Omoku, Rivers State, Nigeria,
Okara Victor Ibeze & Olumba Thankgod H., Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port
Harcourt,Rivers State,Nigeria
Page 132
ASSESSMENT OF TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS REQUIRED FOR MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING CRAFT STUDENTS FOR MAINTAINING MECHANICAL
MACHINES IN GOVERNMENT TECHNICAL
COLLEGESIN RIVERS STATE.
by
ONUOTU CHRISTIAN , NOKARA VICTOR IBEZE&
OLUMBA THANKGOD H.
Abstract
Assessment of Technological Skills Required for Mechanical Engineering Craft Students
for Maintaining Mechanical Machines in Government Technical Colleges in RiversState
is aimed at determining the extent to which students have acquired practical skills before
graduation. The study adopted survey research design. The population for this study
comprises65 respondents, made up of 40 Mechanical engineering craft teachers and 25
Mechanical engineering craft instructors. The study answered two research questions and
tested two hypotheses. The instrument comprising of practical skills items or operations
based on NBTEcurriculum and NABTEB syllabus were developed and validated by three
experts. Data collected were analyzed using statistical mean, Standard deviation and t-test.
The result of the study showed that the mechanical engineering craftsmen experience
unemployment not because the industries are saturated but because the current practical
skillsthey have acquiredare no longer in consonance with current practicesin the industries.
Based on this result, it wasrecommended amongst others that Mechanical engineering craft
teachers should endeavour to use the improved teaching techniques to enhance students
practical skill acquisition as a guidefor teaching the practical skill units so as to improve
the quality of instruction and enhance adequate content coverage of the curriculum. The
teaching of machine tools operations by mechanical engineering craft teachers should be
guided by a well-defined specific objectives and relevant learning experiences and
activities.
Keywords:Practicalskills;Assessment, Mechanical, engineering, craft, Technology
Introduction
The role of technical, vocational education and training (TVET) in facilitating
employment opportunities should not be neglected in Nigeria, as it has the potential to
enhance job creation, wealth generation, poverty reduction and technological
transformation, which could help to minimize insecurity in the nation which unemployment
and poverty usually breed. As Nigerians’ currently face many challenges ranging from
economic challenges, social- cultural challenges, developmental challenges, insecurity,
among others, technical vocationaleducation and training (TVET) could serve as one of the
ways to address these problems. It was established in Nigeria to impart skills and
entrepreneurial spirit needed to create wealth and enhance the economic development of
the nation. The aim of establishing technical vocationaleducation and training was not only
to activate the unemployed in an attempt to reconnect them with the labour market and
reduce overall level of unemployment, but also to activate the economically inactive.
According to Obidile (2018), TVET is mostly offered in Universities of Technology,
Colleges of Technology,
Onuotu Christian N., Federal College of Education (Tech.) Omoku, Rivers State, Nigeria,
Okara Victor Ibeze & Olumba Thankgod H., Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port
Harcourt,Rivers State,Nigeria