Auto-Mechanic And Auto-Electrical 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-Mechanic Skills, Auto-Electrical Skills
Abstract
This study examined the Auto-Mechanic and Auto-Electrical Skills required by Automobile Education Graduates for Career Development in Automobile Services in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design of the observational type was adopted for the study. The study population comprised 56 (28 HND and 28 BSc. Ed.) graduates of automobile technology education who sought for employment in an automobile servicing industry/company in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. The population was used as sample because of its manageable size; hence there was no sampling. An Observational Schedule titled ‘Auto-Mechanic and Auto-Upholstery Skills Required for Career Development in Automobile Services (AMAESRCDAS) developed by the researcher with reliability coefficient of 0.79 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-mechanic (mean = 1.96) and auto-electrical (mean – 1.59) skills required for career development in automobile services. The result further revealed that there was significant difference in the auto-mechanic and auto-electrical skills of HND and B.Sc. Ed. automobile education graduates for career development in automobile services with those of HND showing higher skills. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that there should be progressive training and retraining of teachers and instructors in line with the areas of skill deficiencies to equip them with professional and technical skills for meeting the training needs of their trainees and potential automobile services graduates.