Improving Job Performance of Technical and Vocational Students through Work-Based Learning Experience in Nigeria.

Abstract

The study sought ways of improving job performance of students of technical vocational education through work-based learning in Nigeria. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. A total of 245 respondents were used for the study, comprising 115 workers of industries and 130 teachers of technology education randomly selected from industries and tertiary institutions offering technical vocational education courses. A 35 items questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. The data collected from the research questions were analyzed using Mean and Standard Deviations, while the hypotheses were tested using t-test at .05 level of probability. Findings from the study revealed among others that : Work-Based (WB) learning have the potential of improving the job performance of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates because it allows students to observe the work world so as to develop workplace skills; WBL helps students to understand workplace expectations. Findings also revealed that the integration of WBL for improving job performances of TVET students is constrained by the fact that the National Policy on Education places no emphasis on the need for WBL. Similarly, the study revealed that WBL can be integrated to TVET for improved skills through greater collaboration between technical and vocational institutions and the industries for effective WBL experience. It was recommended among others that for an improved job performance by students of TVET, there should be a review and restructuring of TVET curriculum to accommodate WBL experiences that have much impact on technical education.