Gap Analysis on Effective Communication Skills of Technical Educators for Teaching and Learning Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)

Abstract

The study analyzed the gap in effective communication skill of technical educators for teaching and learning of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Three research questions and a hypothesis were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted a survey research design. The population of the study was made up of 205 subjects. 25 lecturers in school of technical education and 180 of educators in state technical colleges Niger State. The sample for the study consisted of 70. 25 lecturers in the school of technical education in Niger State College of Education, Minna and 45 technical college educators in three technical colleges and three departments in Niger State drawn through Multistage Sampling Techniques. The instrument used for data collection is a structured questionnaire. Mean and standard deviation (SD) were used to analyzed research questions. Independent sample t-test was used to analyzed hypothesis which determined the no relationship at (Pα .05) level of significance on the gap between the effective communication skills needed and possessed by technical educators in technical colleges in Niger State. The study found out among others that the effective communication skills listed are all needed by technical educators for effective TVET in technical colleges. The technical educators possessed some of the skills and some are not possessed. The gap shows that the following skills are needed to be improve on for effective communication in teaching and learning of TVET: ability to use electronic communication devices, emotional management, speed and sequence of speech and so on. There were significance differences between the effective communication in some of the skill needed and possessed by the technical educators. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended among others that, the government should provide electronic communication devices in technical colleges. The ministry of education should organize training for technical educators on the uses of electronic communication devices, ability to use body language, ability to involve students in teaching and learning and so on to improve effective communication in technical colleges.