TEACHER COMPETENCY IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING CRAFT TRADES IN NORTHWEST NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR RETRAINING IN TECHNICAL VOCATION EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Abstract

The study aims to determine the retraining needs of Mechanical Engineering Trade teachers in technical schools in Norte-West zone of Nigeria. The specific objectives were to determine the technical skills possessed and needed by MET teachers in technical schools in the zone. A descriptive research design was adopted to reach out to a population of 78 MET teachers in the zone. The instruments for data collection used were a four-category response Mechanical Engineering Trade Teachers Skills Possessed (METTSPI), and Mechanical Engineering Trade Practical Skill Need Instrument (METPSNI). The instrument was subjected to both validity and reliability, with a reliability coefficient of r- 0.87. The data was analyzed using mean statistic and the hypotheses using ANOVA at 95% confidence level. Results show that technical skills possessed by MET teachers in technical schools in the Norte-West zone of Nigeria is poor. It was therefore recommended among others, that the respective state governments in the North-West zone should design a comprehensive retraining workshops for MET teachers periodically. It also calls for the retooling of all technical colleges in the zone to meet best practice in new mechanical production standard.