Abstract
This study explored the perception of some stakeholders on integrating apprenticeship programmes in building construction skill acquisition among technical college students in Enugu State. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Population for the study comprisedtechnical college teachers, construction site supervisors/managers and site workers, and building construction students, drawn using accidental and snowball sampling techniques. Data collection was done using an instrument titled Apprenticeship and Technical College Programme Questionnaire (ATCPQ). The questionnaire was face-validated by three experts and tested for internal consistency using Cronbach alpha. An overall reliability coefficient of 0.90 was obtained. The instrument was administered directly to the respondents, and data collected were analyzed using Mean statistics and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results showthat respondents are aware of apprenticeship programmes' viability in imparting building construction skills to technical college students, including technical skills for block/brick laying, draughtsmanship, blueprint reading, masonry and concreting etc. Beyond technical skills, respondents believe that apprenticeship programmes facilitate the acquisition of complementary skills such as communication, teamwork, time management, and creativity. The one-way ANOVA results indicate statistically significant differences between groups in terms of perception, acquirable building construction skills, and challenges, while relevance was not significant. These findings suggest that respondents' views on the importance and effectiveness of apprenticeship programmes, the specific skills they believe can be acquired, and the challenges faced in implementing these programmes varysignificantly across different groups. Thus, it was recommended among others that technical colleges should offer personalized support and mentorship to cater to the diverse needs and expectations of students.
Keywords:Apprenticeship Programmes, Building Construction, Skill Acquisition, Technical Colleges
Publication Date: 2024-12-08