Improving Quality of Pedagogy/Instructional Practices in Office Technology and Management Programme in Polytechnics in Delta State Nigeria for Sustainable Growth, Security and Development (Published)
The study is on improving quality of pedagogy/instructional practices in Office Technology and Management (OTM) programme in polytechnics in Delta State Nigeria for sustainable growth, security and development. In this study, the researchers raised four research questions and two formulated hypotheses. Literature was reviewed. The design for this study was a survey where a structured questionnaire was prepared and used for collection of data. The study was conducted in the three (3) polytechnics in Delta State and 45 OTM lecturers were sampled for the study. The instrument used was validated by three lecturers drawn from the three polytechnics. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The study revealed that the objectives of OTM were achievable and that OTM courses taught were in line with the 2008 NBTE minimum guidelines: that lecturers selected and used new technologies in line with the topics they teach and that lecturers selected appropriate instructional strategies in line with the topics and the teaching aids. The conclusions drawn are that lecturers should be familiar with any change(s) as a result of periodic curriculum review and constant influx of new technologies in education. On the basis of this, the researchers made useful recommendations aimed at making the teaching and learning of OTM courses most interesting and practically oriented to the learners.
Keywords: Education, Pedagogy, office technology and management, quality and sustainable development.
Entrepreneurship Competency Possessed by Office Technology and Management (OTM) Graduates for Self-Reliance (Published)
This study was carried out to determine the entrepreneurship competencies possessed by office technology and management for self-reliant in delta state. Two research questions guided the study with two null hypotheses which were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised all the office technology and management lectures in the three polytechnics in delta state, Nigeria. Due to the small size the entire population was used for the study. Cronbach Alpha method was used to determine the reliability of the items and a coefficient of 0.75 was obtained. The mean and standard deviation were used to analyse data relative to the research questions and equally determine the homogeneity of the respondent’s means. The t-test statistical tool was used to test the null hypotheses. Findings of the study revealed that entrepreneurial competencies and information and communication (ICT). Competencies are pre-requisite for graduate of office technology and management (OTM) programme for self-reliant and employability in delta state. It was recommended among others that office technology and management (OTM) educators should ensure that graduates of office technology and management (OTM) are highly exposed to different entrepreneurial competencies for self-employment and employability. Government should endeavour to encourage entrepreneurship by introducing element of entrepreneurship at all level of the educational system. Lastly management of the polytechnics should endeavour to equip office technology and management (OTM) department with the relevant facilities and equipment required for quality entrepreneurship competencies for the achievement of office technology and management (OTM) goals.
Keywords: entrepreneurship competencies, office technology and management, self-reliant
Training Of Office Technology and Management Education Students for Job Demands and Self-Employment in Ekiti State, Nigeria (Published)
Office technology and management (OTM) education is an integral part of business education programme in Nigeria. The course is expected to provide occupational skills for its recipients in business or office related occupations either as employees or self-employed. However, it has been observed that most graduates of this progamme at both colleges of education and university levels are unemployed despite the presumed acquired skills and knowledge. In view of this, the study sought to examine the training of OTM education student vis-à-vis the job demands in business environment in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Thus, three research questions are raised and answered. The research design adopted descriptive survey. The population of the study consisted of 4,030, made up of 15 OTM lecturers in College of Education, Ikere Ekiti and Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti and all the 4,015 registered operators/managers of private establishments with the Ministry of Commerce and Trade in Ekiti State in 2018. The sample of the study was 1,220 respondents made up of the entire 15 OTM lecturers in the two institutions and 1,205 randomly selected respondents across the 16 local government areas, representing 30% of the population of the operators of business establishments. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the three research questions. The results revealed that most of the needed ICT facilities for effective training of these students to meet job demands are not enough and that most OTM lecturers require additional ICT- related training to produce competent and qualified OTM education graduates for improved employability. Thus, the study concluded that most OTM education graduates are not adequately prepared to meet the expected job demands in a technologically-driven office environment. It is therefore recommended that government should provide needed modern-day instructional facilities for this programme and sponsor OTM lecturers on relevant ICT packages.
Keywords: Education, Self-employment, Training, job demands, office technology and management
