Policy Problems in Financing Vocational and Technical Education: Implications for Technological Advancement

Cajethan Uche Ugwuoke ,Blessing I Onyebuchi ,Chinyere R Okwo ,Godwin Emeka Eze ,Jane E Agege ,Lilian U Ekenta

doi:10.7176/jlpg/91-11

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate policy problems in financing vocational and technical education with implication on technological advancement. The study adopted a survey research design. The population of the study was 195 lecturers in Enugu State higher institutions. Two higher institutions were randomly selected and the entire 80 lecturers were included in the study. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire designed by the researchers. The questionnaire was validated by 3 experts, while the internal consistency of the questionnaire items was determined using Cronbach alpha method which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.88. The data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions while t-test statistic was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study found out that Tertiary Education Tax Fund (TETFUND), students’ tuition fee, research grants, the Federal and State Government budgetary allocation are the major sources of financing vocational and technical education. Absence of direct policy on vocational and technical education financing, non-inclusion of vocational and technical education experts in policymaking and absence of policy to checkmate indiscipline and corruption of the leaders were found to be the policy problems in financing vocational and technical education. The researchers recommend among others that policy formulations relating to vocational and technical education should be handled by VTE specialist but not just education experts. Keyword: Policy, Policy problems, financing, vocational and technical education, technological advancement. DOI : 10.7176/JLPG/91-11 Publication date: November 30 th 2019

Highlights

Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) has currently become the focus of the world economy
Implementation of formidable and quality vocational and technical education needs huge financial involvements which can be acquired through government budgetary allocation, students’ tuition fees, alumni and donations
Vocational and technical education is not given the proper place in Nigeria by involving specialists in VTE policy formulations, non-direct policy on VTE financing and non-implementation of policies to checkmate the indiscipline and corruption of the leaders of VTE

Summary

Introduction

Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) has currently become the focus of the world economy. Okolocha (2012) stated that as advances in technology draw the world more closely together; vocational and technical preparedness becomes increasingly important. This led to the renewed interest of the world in vocational and technical education as a pillar for individual and national economic survival. VTE is defined as education and training on technologies with technical knowledge, vocational skills and structural experiences acquired on-the-job or off-the-job necessary for agricultural, industrial, commercial and economic development of an individual towards national building. For the programme to achieve its objective in any economy, effective policy framework and implementation should be vehemently considered

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Conclusion