STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE DELTA STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGES STUDENTS SKILLS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN METALWORK TECHNOLOGY

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY  

Metalwork technology in the Technical colleges is subject/trade that is aimed at studying the Technical competencies in trade-related areas which include welding and fabrication, foundry and forging and machine shop practice. Metalwork technology according to Vilaton (2010) refers to activities of using metals or metal based materials for the purpose of fabrication, construction and other associated project and design activities. The Technical College metal work curriculum is designed to meet requirements necessary to prepare students for employment, self-reliance and/or entrepreneurial ventures. Metalwork technology according to the Federal Ministry of Education, (2004) is a vocational subject offered at the senior secondary schools and Technical colleges level for the purpose of enabling students to acquire further knowledge and develop skills. It exposes students to career opportunity by exploring usable options in the world of work, and enable youths to have an intelligent understanding of the increasing complexity of technology. The achievement of the above stated objectives would depend on the mode of instruction and motivation of students in the study of metalwork which is one of the technical education subject by the teacher.

Recognizing the importance of Technical education in general and metalwork in particular, in National Development of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Education, (2004) listed metalwork as one of the subjects to be studied at all levels of educational institutions. Metalwork is also one of the subjects for which specialist teachers should be provided at all educational levels. The inclusion of metalwork at technical institutions prepares minds of youngsters to the opportunity for technological development. Students that completed technical college programmes according to FGN, (2004) shall have the opportunity to secure employment either at the end of the whole course or after completing one or more modules of employable skill. Also, the student could be able to set up their own business and become self-employed and be able to employ others and in addition pursue further education in tertiary institutions like Monotechnics, Polytechnics or Colleges of Education (Technical). The goal of Technical education that starts from Technical colleges according to Salami (2001) is to produce trained manpower in technology and be equipped with knowledge in craft, advance craft, with Technical knowledge and vocational skills that are necessary for individual who shall be self-reliant in contemporary Nigeria. These individuals are to be guided in the vocational skill training. Training then needs to be conducted for metalwork technology students in technical colleges so as to achieve these lofty objectives. The Federal Ministry of Education (FME), (2000) stated that Technical College program comprises four components namely; trade theory, general education, related subjects, workshop practice with industrial training and to ensure quality, all graduates of Technical College will be asked to sit for examination conducted by National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) conducted by the body and it is uniform all over the country. Imandojemu (2008) observed that, Technical College students have been having poor results in their final year National Business and Technical Education Board (NABTEB) examination particularly in metalwork. These results show that average failure rate in metalwork technology trade in the year 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 were 56%, 67%, 48% and 73% respectively (NABTEB, 2015). Failure in metalwork subject predates Nigerians independence (Taiwo, 2001). This situation, has not improved but rather has continued to deteriorate (Okebukola, 2006). Hence, it is a source of concern for researchers.

Metalwork technology is a science oriented course; and simply, the world science came from Latin “Scientia” meaning knowledge. It refers to a system of acquiring knowledge. This system uses observation and experimentation to describe and explain natural phenomenon. In other words the term science also refers to as an organized body of knowledge people have gained using that system, less formally. The word science often describes any systematic field of study or the knowledge gained from it. The education attainment of the student in science is inevitable and should be looked into with a lot of invention in both teaching on side of student at all level. The training of the students most especially, children in primary schools is very important since the extent of a nation future labour force, leadership, political stability and strength of technical knowledge all lies in their hands. The importance of science and its implementation to the social and environment of the people is well recognized by every nation. Some scientific knowledge is needed by everyone in other to have an idea of the ways in which one is fed, entertained clothed and sheltered to ensure a more profitable exploration of scientific and technological potentials, it is therefore necessary to lay emphasis on scientific knowledge. In respect of this integrated science subjects was introduced into the school curriculum by science teachers association of Nigeria about few decades ago and was made compulsory in the junior secondary school level.  

Ebina (2010) observed that the cooperative arrangement between the science teachers association of Nigeria (STAN) and the defunct comparative educational research and adaptation centre (CESAC) now merged into the Nigeria educational research and development council (NERDC) heralded by the first national effort at science curriculum development to improve science education in Nigeria in  1969. The result of this 1969 curriculum conferences was the information of two major science projects (NISP) and the Nigerian Secondary Schools Sciences Projects (NSSSP) later the National Primary Science and Mathematics Projects (NPSMP) were developed. Presently there are the basic science and technology projects (BSTP) for primary schools. In order to achieve good results in the science curricular projects government policies were specially geared towards encouraging science teaching and learning at all level. Ivowi (2000) observed that government science policies have aimed at boosting and improving Metalwork technology education.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Metalwork technology teaching in secondary schools in general has so many problems associated with it, for example lack of qualified teachers teaching Metalwork technology subjects, lack of Metalwork technology equipment to carry out practical’s in Metalwork technology classes, lackadaisical attitude on the part of the students towards Metalwork technology subjects. The government has tried to put more effort to put an end to these problems yet their effort has proved abortive due to one reasons or the other.

Thus the researcher has decided to make an in-depth study into the factors that contributes to these problems despite the effort put by the successive government with a quest of finding solution to these problems.

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the research is to study the behaviour and attitude of students towards the studying and teaching of Metalwork technology. The researcher also wants to find out the general view held by the public as to the causes of student’s poor level of achievement in Metalwork technology. To examine the ways of Metalwork technology in some selected secondary schools and how to improve and better the performance of the students.  

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of this study lies in the fact that the performance of students in Metalwork technology subjects over the years facilitates an assessment for mapping out strategies that will improve the performance in the nearby future especially in Egor  Local Government Area of Edo State and Nigeria  as a whole and this is done to pinpoint to Metalwork technology students that learning Metalwork technology through reading is important because it helps them to;

1. Think and learn

2. Teach students how to use reading materials effectively

3. Know that there are several sources of information available on different reading level

4. Know that learning through self discovery is the best way to Metalwork technology

5. Assist students in developing their Metalwork technology vocabularies

6. Teach Metalwork technology students how to apply what has been learnt to new situation which will serve as an evaluating techniques

7. Assist students studying Metalwork technology subjects to improve their interest of studying Metalwork technology through raising questions that can be solved in the class.

8. Know the aims at signifying the important of experience or demonstration and by bringing challenges to slow and rapid learning through oral written test.  

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

This research questions is to find out the strategies to improve delta state technical colleges students skills and academic performance in metalwork technology. In doing this, the following questions arte  guide;  

1. What are the qualifications of teachers?

2. What are teacher’s competencies and self efficiency in their instructional delivery?

3. What method of teaching do the teachers use in teaching Metalwork technology subjects?

4. Are the teachers paid well by the government?

5. What effort is the government and community making to solve the government?

6. Do the schools have Metalwork technology equipment?

7. What is the behaviour of students towards the learning of Metalwork technology subjects?

8. What is the content of Metalwork technology curriculum and its implementation?

The researcher is of the view that the answers to the above questions would help to identify the ways of improving Metalwork technology in our schools.

1.6       SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study will involve the performance of students and teachers towards the study of Metalwork technology in Delta state Technical college. This project deals with the strategies to improve delta state technical colleges students skills and academic performance in metalwork technology. And also the remedies to this problems will be highlighted.

1.7 SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

 An important constraint to the research was the limited time frame within which to conduct the study. Another factor limiting this study is lack of sufficient fund. It is not an easy task to travel all schools in the area especially in this era of high financial instability. Notwithstanding I have tried as much as possible to overcome any constraints as such.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Metalwork technology: An accumulated body of knowledge and skills about nature.

Laboratory: It is a building where scientific purpose of carrying out practical work, also laboratory can be seen as a room or building used for scientific research, experimentation, testing etc.

Qualified teachers: These are sets of teachers that are trained in institutions and are certified as professional teachers eg. TC II, NCE, B.Ed etc

Constraints: To force somebody to do something or behave in a particular way or to restrict somebody or something.

Abortive: An action that is successfully failed.

Heralded: Something that shows that something else is going to happen soon

Lackadaisical: Not showing enough care or enthusiasm