Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the utilization of principal components of the metalwork programme of Southeast technical colleges to ensure high skills acquisition of their students for gainful employment after graduation. To conduct the study, five research questions and four hypotheses were formulated. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population for the study was 346, comprising 40 metalwork instructors, 11 heads of section and 295 products of Southeast technical colleges. No sample was taken as the entire population of 346 was manageable. A structured questionnaire containing 82 items was used for data collection. The instrument was face-validated, while reliability test of the instrument was determined, using Cronbach alpha reliability technique, which yielded 0.89. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer research questions 1 to 4 while percentage was used to answer research question 5. Mean values ranging from 3.00-5.00 were accepted while the mean values from 1-2.99 were not accepted as being effective in the utilization of principal components of metalwork programme. A t-test was used to test the four null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Following the analysis, a t-test value with the associated probability value that exceeded 0.05 level of significance, under relevant degree of freedom was not significant and therefore the Null Hypothesis (Ho1) was accepted whereas the Null Hypothesis was rejected if the t-test value with its associated probability value was below 0.05 level of significance. Findings of the study were: the curriculum contents, workshop facilities and engagement techniques of metalwork programme were utilized to a high level in technical colleges in South-east, Nigeria; there was a significant difference in the mean responses of heads of section and metalwork instructors on the level of quality exhibited by the personnel in the aspect of equity time-allotment to practical work and the theory and use of metalwork instructors holding a B.Ed. (Tech.) in the technical colleges in Southeast, Nigeria; steps in the practical exercises of students were not monitored and supervised by instructors; products of technical colleges under review recorded low performance of 59% at the 2013 National Technical Certificate (NTC) metalwork examinations. It is recommended that the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) should review the time allotted to practical work aspect of the curriculum contents, to encourage equitable time distribution for workshop practice and general education subjects in technical colleges curriculum; greater incentives should be offered in the form of attractive salary package for professionals who show interest in government employment in technical colleges, for the technology education cadre. This measure would encourage easy employment of qualified technical instructors (with a B.Ed Tech.) degree certificate in the area of metalwork in technical colleges; there should be effective monitoring and supervision of metalwork practice by heads of section and instructors of metalwork in the technical colleges. These recommendations should be implemented to facilitate the achievement of the objectives of metalwork programme of technical colleges in South-east, Nigeria.