Auto-Bodywork And Auto-Upholstery Skills Required By Automobile Education Graduates For Career Development In Automobile Services
Dr. Okpube Nnaemeka Michael Ph.D.
Department of Science Education, Ebonyi State University, Abakiliki, Nigeria
Engr. Tor Festus Lepii
Department of Technology and Vocational Education, Ebonyi State University, Abakiliki, Nigeria
Engr. Prof. Nwobasi Paul Awo
Department of Technology and Vocational Education, Ebonyi State University, Abakiliki, Nigeria
Keywords: Work skills, Automobile Education Graduates, Auto-Bodywork Skills, Auto-Upholstery Skills
Abstract
This study looked at the auto-bodywork and auto-upholstery skills needed by graduates of automotive education to advance in the auto industry in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The study was conducted using an observational descriptive survey research approach. Fifty six graduates of automotive technology education (28 HND and 28 B.Sc. Ed.) who sought for employment in an automobile servicing company in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, made up the study population. There was no sampling because the population was employed as a sample due to its manageable size. An Observational Schedule titled ‘Auto-Bodywork and Auto-Electrical skills required for Career Development in Automobile Services (ABAUSRCDAS) developed by the researchers with reliability coefficient of 0.81 was used as instrument for data collection. Mean and standard deviation statistics were used to answer the research questions while independent t-test statistics was used to test the hypotheses at 95% confidence level. The results revealed that: automobile education graduates observed possessed very low level of the auto-bodywork (mean = 1.03) and auto-upholstery (mean = 0.92) skills required for career development in automobile services. The results also showed that HND and B.Sc. Ed. graduates of automotive education had significantly different auto-bodywork and auto-upholstery skills for career growth in the automotive services, with HND graduates having better skills. According to the study's conclusions, it was suggested, among other things, that teachers and instructors should receive progressive training and retraining in accordance with their skill gaps in order to provide them with the professional and technical skills they need to meet the training needs of their trainees and potential automobile services graduates.