Abstract:
The study assessed the perceived falling standards in practical skills of trainees, using
mechanical engineering craft practice in Technical and Vocational Education within
Techiman Municipality as a case study. The research design adopted for this study was
the descriptive research design. Survey questionnaires were distributed to
apprentice/students and master craftsmen in the Vocational and Technical schools. The
population for the study was nine hundred and ninety eight (998) students currently
undergoing Technical and vocational training in the respective schools in the Techiman
Municipality. Random sampling technique was used to select one hundred and nine
respondents for the study (97 apprentices and 12 master craftsmen). The questionnaire
was delivered by hand to each respondent and collected after completion by
respondents. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for windows (version 16.0)
was the analytical tool used to analyze the data.From the research finding 80.4% of the
respondents spent less than one year at the training institutions as compare to the pass
years before one can get into the MET 1, which contributed greatly to the falling
standard.The study findings shows that activity based method, demonstration method
and observation were used to deliver competency based skills acquisition. Most of the
apprentices had their technical competency training from master craftsmen. The
designing of training programmes in technical training is good. Moreover, the practical
competency training is good. Furthermore, the vocational training institutes lack
adequate educational resources to facilitate vocational education. This means that
availability of tools and equipment for TVET training is poor. This eventually
contributed to the falling standards in practical skills of trainees. The study
recommended that the Ghana Education Service through the District education office
should provide Teaching and Learning Materials in a form of tools and equipment to
enhance the practical skills of trainees.
Description:
A Dissertation in the Department of MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY
EDUCATION, Faculty of TECHNICAL EDUCATION, submitted to the school of
Graduate Studies, University of Education, Winneba in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the award of Master of Mechanical Technology (Mechanical) degree.