INCORPORATION OF PRIVATE TRADESMEN TO TEACH THEIR TRADES IN TECHNICAL COLLEGES TO IMPROVE SYNERGY BETWEEN INFORMAL AND FORMAL EDUCATION IN TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the feasibility of Incorporating Private Tradesmen to teach their trades in Technical Colleges in North Central Nigeria. Five research questions guided the study. Descriptive survey design was adopted. Population of the study was 1262 respondents comprising of 40 tradesmen, 12 officials of Science & Technical Schools Board (STSB), 10 principals and 1,200 Senior Technical (ST) 1 student in the selected Technical Colleges in the North Central Nigeria. Sample of the study was 462 respondents comprising of the 40 tradesmen, 12 officials of (STSB), 10 principals and 400 ST, 1 student. The instruments for data collection were Feasibility Rating Scale (FRS), Willingness Inventory for Teaching Trades (WITT), Willingness Inventory for Short Term Training (WISTT), and Perception Inventory on Incorporating Tradesmen (PITT). The instruments were obtained for FRS, and WITT, WISTT and PIIT respectively using Cronbach Alpha Reliability index. The research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation. The results revealed that it is highly feasible to incorporate the tradesmen to teach practical skills of their trades to the students. It was found that tradesmen are willing to teach the skills of their trades to students. The students on the other hand have positive perception towards incorporating tradesmen to teach them their trades. It also showed that tradesmen are willing to participate in Short Term Training to enable them teach their trades more effectively. It further revealed that Principals of Technical Schools and Officials of STSB are emphatically supporting the incorporation of tradesmen to teach their trades (practical skills) to Technical College Students. Therefore, this study advocated for implementation of the scheme in the Technical Colleges in the North Central States in Nigeria.