Relevant Foundry Craft Practice Skills for Technical College Students’ Self-Employment in COVID-19 Pandemic Era in Rivers State

Abstract

The study examined relevant foundry craft practice skills for technical college students’ self-employment in covid-19 pandemic era in rivers state. Four purposes and four research questions were raised and one null hypothesis formulated which guided the study. The study adopted the descriptive survey design. The population was 239 comprised of 180 technicians and 59 teachers/instructors in six Government Technical Colleges in Rivers State. A questionnaire structured on a 4-point rating scale was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three specialists one from School of secondary Technical Education, Federal College of Education (Technical) Omoku, and the other two from faculty of education, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. The reliability coefficient of .80 was obtained. The data collected from the respondents were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions. The findings reveled that to a high extent, practical skills in pattern making, core making, moulding process, melting, molten metal handling and treatment skills were relevant and innovative for technical college students’ self-employment in covid-19 pandemic era in Rivers State. Hence, the study recommends government should promote the teaching and learning of foundry craft practice skills in Nigerian technical college to encourage students’ self-employment on graduation, than being job seekers. School administrators, teachers and students should give foundry craft practice lessons the uppermost priority as a very relevant trade that can engender entrepreneurs in Rivers state.