STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING MAINTENANCE OF LABORATORIES AND EQUIPMENT OF VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

1.1 Introduction

Vocational and Technical education is a type of education which is designed specifically to accommodate both the trainer and the trainee to enable the trainee acquire the basic knowledge, skills, abilities, understanding and attitudes needed for one’s efficient performance in his or her chosen occupational career for self-reliance and national development (Nwogu & Nwanorou, 2011). It is the education and training that equips individuals and learners with knowledge, ideas, principles, attitudes and attributes which will enable them to discover opportunities, plan and create ventures to exploit the opportunities available for economic development. Technical education and training are the education for the acquisition and development of skills, competencies and attitudes which are necessary for capacity building.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Over the years Nigeria as a nation has been making effort to be advanced and industrialized like other nations in the world, in terms of robust economy, science and technology as well as high standard of living. In countries like United States of America. Great Britain, China and Germany, there are massive industrialization, advanced science and technology, massive employment and high income per capital as well as reduction in poverty rate among the populace. Against this background, Nigeria in 1987 decided to introduce vocational and technical education into the National Policy on education as a road map to socio economic greatness.

UNESCO (2002) described technical education and training as a comprehensive term which encompasses the study of technologies and related sciences and the acquisition of practical skills, attitudes, understanding and knowledge related to occupations in various sectors of economic and social life.

Vocational and technical education is an educational training which encompasses knowledge, skills competencies, structural, activities, abilities, capabilities and all other experiences acquired through formal, on the job or off the job which are capable of enhancing recipients and creating opportunity for securing job (Okolocha, 2006). The Federal Republic of Nigeria (2004) outlined the goals of Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) in the National Policy on Education document as follows to provide trained manpower in the applied sciences, technology and business particularly at craft, and technical levels, provide the technical knowledge and vocational skills necessary for agriculture, commerce and economic development and give training and impart the necessary skills to individuals who shall be self-reliant economically while at the post secondary (tertiary) technical institute such as Polytechnics or colleges of education (technical) and universities.

To be able to achieve this goal of vocational technical education, there must be adequate instructional facilities such as laboratories and equipment for the teachings and learning of vocational and technical education skills, knowledge and competencies at the tertiary level. vocational and technical education include training in engineering such as Electrical, Mechanical, Welding and Fabrication, Agricultural, science laboratory, computer science, other courses include office technology, food technology hospitality, business administration, accountancy etc. These courses are taught at colleges of education, polytechnic and the universities.

Ogbuanya (2004) observed that government in realization of the importance of tools, equipment and laboratories in skill training and scientific knowledge has provided funds for tools, equipment and laboratories at the secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

One of the principal roles of vocational technical education institutions is to promote skill acquisition among the youth through training. This is a sure step towards achieving the goals of vocational technical education. Skill acquisition leads to self reliance and self employment among graduates of vocational technical education. Uzoagulu (1993) opined that manipulative skills cannot be effectively impacted theoretically and that laboratories, equipment and tools are very much required in the training for practical skill acquisition.

Since these courses require high level of practical skills acquisition, there is need for functional workshops or laboratories. Laboratories in VTE may not be properly financed or funded, but there is need for appropriate maintenance culture to be practiced in the laboratory for sustainable acquisition of practical skills. This study therefore intends to identify the strategies for improving maintenance of laboratories and equipment of vocational and technical education for effective service delivery in tertiary institutions.

Therefore, in Delta State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Strategies for Improving Maintenance of Laboratories and Equipment of Vocational and Technical Education for Effective Service Delivery in Tertiary Institutions.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that inspite of the huge financial commitment of government in the provision of laboratories, tools and equipment, Anyakoha (1992) stated that these equipment, tools and laboratories lack maintenance. The unfortunate and regrettable state of equipment tools and laboratories have been attributed to inability of the operators to apply preventive and total maintenance culture as at when due, on the equipment tools and laboratories. This paper intends to address the problem of poor maintenance culture in vocational technical education institutions at the tertiary level.

The problem of this study is therefore to identify the required strategies that will enhance and promote high maintenance culture of laboratories, workshops and equipment in vocational technical education at tertiary level.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to determine the Strategies for Improving Maintenance of Laboratories and Equipment of Vocational and Technical Education for Effective Service Delivery in Tertiary Institutions in Delta State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To determine the purpose of workshop and equipment maintenance in VTE in tertiary institutions.
2. To identify the strategies for improving maintenance practices of workshop laboratory and equipment in vocational and technical education in tertiary institutions.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Are there strategies for improving maintenance practices of workshop laboratory and equipment in vocational and technical education in tertiary institutions?
• What is the purpose of maintenance problem of laboratory / workshop of vocational and technical education tertiary institutions?
• What ways can the maintenance of laboratory and workshop equipment can be improved in vocational and technical education tertiary institutions in Delta State?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no significant difference between the mean perception of lecturers and technologists on strategies that would improve maintenance of laboratory / workshop and equipment in vocational and technical education in tertiary institutions.
• H1: There is a significant difference between the mean perception of lecturers and technologists on strategies that would improve maintenance of laboratory / workshop and equipment in vocational and technical education in tertiary institutions.

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There is no significant difference between the mean perception of lectures and technologists on the purpose of maintenance problem in vocational and technical education tertiary institutions.
• H1: There is a significant difference between the mean perception of lectures and technologists on the purpose of maintenance problem in vocational and technical education tertiary institutions.

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1.7 Significance of Study

The following are the relevance of this research work which is stated as follows:

1. The study is of paramount importance to ensure good maintenance culture of laboratories and equipment in vocational and technical education tertiary institutions in Delta State.
2. It will ensure that investment of laboratories and equipment are optimally used for teaching and learning of vocational technical education centers.
3. The findings will expose student teachers and administrators strategies of maintaining laboratories and equipment in vocational technical education programme.
4. The study will improve the performance of students in terms of access to functional laboratories and equipment for teaching and learning of vocational and technical education programme.
5. Finally, the study will also assist managerial and teachers in minimizing cost of maintenance.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The study focuses on the Strategies for Improving Maintenance of Laboratories and Equipment of Vocational and Technical Education for Effective Service Delivery in Tertiary Institutions in Delta State.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

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1.10 Definition of Terms

Retention Defined: Retention is the ability to possess, use, keep information and ability to reproduce past experiences or previously familiar materials, much of the experiences one thinks are not retained were never stored in the long term memory system.

Lecture Method Defined: According to Blair (2007) lecture method is the commonest method in use by teachers, it does not foster critical thinking, creative thinking and problem solving. It allows a great deal of information to be passed to the learner.

Development Defined: Hornby (2000) defines development as the gradual growth of something so that it becomes more advanced and stronger.

Teaching Defined: Teaching is an art of creation and the product of this creation is the human personality. Teaching is defined as a systematic activity deliberately engaged in by the teacher to facilitate the learning of the intended knowledge, skills and values by the student and getting the necessary feedback (Offorma, 2006).