ASSESSMENT OF WOODWORK TECHNOLOGISTS UP-SKILLING NEEDS USING DISCREPANCY MODEL IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NORTH-CENTRAL, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study used the Discrepancy Model to assess up-skilling needs of woodwork technologists in the tertiary institutions in the North Central states of Nigeria. Specifically, the study determined the skills required, the skills possessed and the up-skilling needs of woodwork technologists. Three research questions and one hypothesis were formulated to guide the study and a 68-item structured questionnaire Was used for data collection. The study was a cross-sectional survey design which involved the use of structured questionnaire to seek the views of woodwork technologists on upskilling needs. The questionnaire was validated by two Woodwork lecturers from the Industrial and Technology Education Department, Federal University of Technology, Minna. A population of one hundred and one 001) technologists from 31 tertiary institutions was involved and there was no sampling because the population was manageable. The data generated was analyzed using IBM Statistical Package, version 20. Mean and standard deviation were used for answering the research questions one and two while z-test was used to test the null hypothesis for the purpose of ascertaining the up-skilling needs, which was used as a guide to answer research question three. The study found out that 68 skills were required for optimal job performance. In addition, the technologists moderately possessed the skills in all the 68 items and there was a need for up-skilling at higher level in the 23 items where significant difference lies. Based on these findings, it was recommended that; the management of each of the tertiary institutions should use the identified skill needs to organise separate capacity building workshops for the technologists, National University Commission and the National Board for Technical Education. Additionally, the National Commission for Colleges of Education should use the identified skill needs to upgrade the curriculum of Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

Keywords: Assessment, Technologists, Skill, Tertiary Institution