Strategies for Improving Students Acquisition of Practical Skills in Construction Trades Works in Government Technical Colleges for Employability in South West, Nigeria

Abstract

The study identified strategies for improving student’s acquisition of practical skills in construction trade works in south-west, Nigeria with a view to finding out ways of optimizing practical skills acquisition among students for employability and selfreliance. It was guided by three research questions and three null hypotheses. The descriptive survey design was employed. The population of the study comprised 104 school administrators 82 traders and 1208 final year students making a total of 1394. The entire population of 1394 was used as the sample for the study. A structured questionnaire named “Strategies for Improving Students Acquisition of Practical Skills in Construction Trade Works in South-West, Nigeria GTC” (SISAPSCTW) was used for data collections. The reliability coefficient of entire instruments was 0.82. The data for the study were analyzed using Mean, Grand Mean, Standard Deviation and t-test statistical methods. The findings of the study include among others, Demonstration, assignment, drill and practice, Technology integration, real-world connections, and apprenticeship strategies as much appropriate technology for enhancing practical skills acquisition by the students. It was found out in the study that there were no significant differences between the mean respondents of trade teachers and students on supervisory strategies for student’s practical skills acquisition in construction trade works in GTC of south-west, Nigeria. It was concluded among others that teachers in construction works such as Electrical/Electronics trade, woodwork, building construction, metal construction, automobile, food and Home management apply the appropriate strategies among the listed or combinations of strategies to actualize the impart of skills on the students in GTC. Based on the findings the study recommended that teachers of specific construction works should continue to adopt appropriate teaching strategies identified in the study for improving acquisition of practical skills by the students in GTC and identified strategies for assessing practical skills of students in construction trade works, the finished product work by the students in the GTC should be vested on exhibition, sales and sharing of proceeds with the participatory students as these strategies will motivate GTC students to focus on their study and ready to accomplish and exhibit the skills learnt on their trade and established as self-employer.