PERCEPTION OF TECHNICAL COLLEGE STUDENTS ON WOODWORK TECHNOLOGY FOR SELF EMPOWERMENT IN NIGER STATE

Abstract

Nigeria is fast becoming a predominantly youthful society with high rate of unemployment. There is the need for appropriate training and practical skills in Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) to tackle the unemployment which has reached alarming proportion. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from the population of 102 respondents offering woodwork technology in the college. Mean and Standard Deviation were used to answer the research questions. Kuder Richardson (K-R 21) Formula was used to determine the reliability of instrument. The reliability coefficient of instrument was found to be 087. The objective of the study was to assess the level of performance of practical skills acquired by technical students for self-empowerment, students opinions towards woodwork technology for self-empowerment after the programme, and extent to which study have acquired the skills. Three research questions were postulated to guide the study. The major findings of the study were: practical skills acquired during the course of training is adequate for students to be self employed after schooling, and student perceived that woodwork technology would make them to be self empowered after the training. recommendations were based on the findings of study which include: federal government of Nigeria and all stakeholders should pay attention to woodwork technology in particular and VTE in general as a means of overcoming unemployment problems among the youth in Nigeria Modern tools, equipment and adequate infrastructural facilities should be provided for woodwork practical training.