TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMES IN RIVERS STATE: BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES

This study examines the benefits and challenges of implementing technical and
vocational education programmes in Rivers State. Technical and vocational
education equips learners with practical skills, entrepreneurial abilities, and
knowledge that support employability, self-reliance, and economic growth. Despite
its importance, implementation challenges often undermine expected outcomes,
creating a gap between training and labour market demands. A descriptive survey
design was used to investigate teachers’ and students’ perceptions across four
Government Technical Colleges and seven Government Craft Development Centres.
A sample of 532 respondents was selected using proportional stratified random
sampling, and data were collected through a validated questionnaire, interviews,
and documentary review. Mean scores and percentages were used to answer the
research questions, while z-test and t-test statistics tested the hypotheses at the
0.05 level of significance. Findings showed that respondents agreed that TVE
provides essential benefits, including functional education for self-reliance,
preparation for adulthood, economic development, creativity, risk management,
and skill acquisition. These align with national and international views on TVE as a
tool for youth empowerment and industrial development. However, the study also
revealed several challenges, notably inadequate funding, lack of equipment and
materials, insufficient qualified manpower, negative societal perception, and low
student interest. These obstacles restrict programme effectiveness and hinder
students’ ability to acquire relevant practical skills. Hypothesis testing indicated no
significant differences in perceptions between students of technical and vocational
institutions, and between teachers across the two school types. The uniformity of
responses suggests that the benefits and challenges are systemic across
institutions. These insights underline the need for targeted interventions to
strengthen programme delivery, improve facilities, enhance public perception, and
support students in acquiring employable skills.