Strategies for Enhancing Students’ Skills Acquisition in Mechanical Technology Education in Tertiary Institutions for Self-Reliance in Rivers State

Abstract

This study investigated the strategies for enhancing students’ skills acquisition in Mechanical Technology Education 
in Tertiary Institutions for self-reliance in Rivers State. Specifically, the study sought to: examine the practical and 
students’ industrial work experience scheme strategies for enhancing students’ skills acquisition in mechanical 
technology education in tertiary institutions for self-reliance in Rivers State. A descriptive survey design guided the 
study. The population of the study was 68 which comprised 45 lecturers and 23 Technologist in Rivers State University, 
Ignatius Ajuru University of Education and Federal College of Education (Technical) Omoku. Two research questions 
and hypotheses were answered and tested at a .05 level of significance. The instrument that guided the study was survey 
questionnaire. The instrument was partitioned into two sections, structured in the pattern of 5 point Likert scale of 
agreement. The instrument was face validated by two experts in the Department of Vocational and Technology 
Education in Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach 
Alpha Reliability Coefficient. The reliability coefficient achieved was 0.93. Mean and Standard Deviation were used 
to answer the research questions while t-test was used to test the hypotheses. The study found among others that 
engaging students in fabrication of nuts and bolts, motor cooling activities, servicing of workshop tools, grouping of 
students during practical activities, regular supervision of students during practical exercise, elongating of SIWES 
programme for students to have proper skills acquisition experience, regular supervision of students during SIWES 
programme, requesting students to showcase what they learnt from SIWES programme in the form of an exhibition as 
an assessment. Therefore, it was recommended among others that organizers of SIWES should elongate the duration 
of SIWES programme so that SIWES students can acquire more skills from their place of attachment