VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT IN IMO STATE, NIGERIA.
ABSTRACT
This study investigated vocational training programmes for youth empowerment in Imo State, Nigeria. A sample of 255 learners and instructors were selected for the study. The sample was made up of 204 for trainees and 51 for instructors drawn from the three educational sizes respectively. The stratified sampling technique was adopted by the researchers in the selection of the sample 255 from population of 561. A 45item structured questionnaire titled “questionnaire on vocational training programmes for youth empowerment in Imo state (QVTPFYIMS)”validated by experts was used for data collection. The reliability of the instrument was established at 0.77, 0.77, 0.74, 0.79 and 0.77 for sections A, B, C, D & E respectively using Cronbach alpha statistic. The data obtained were analyzed using mean scores for the research questions while independent sample Z-test statistic was used for the test of the hypotheses. Among the findings of the study was that; the trainees are taught how to apply fertilizer to crops, provide them with free seed, how to rear animals, how to run a poultry farm, train students on livestock and fish farming training to a high extent. But provision of fertilizer and train the youths on pig rearing is to a low extent. It was further resealed that the Electronic works the vocational trainees were exposed to in Imo State in the course of their vocational training are: knowledge of computer packages, repair of electrical appliances like television set, radio etc, how to service electronic devices, how to change damaged parts in electrical devices, how to identify and run hardware and softwares in computer, training people on all kinds of computer skills and equipping people with auto electrical works. Based on these findings, the study recommended among others that; the trainees should therefore be exposed to such training like; how to identify and run hardware and softwares in computer. There should be adequate emphasis on practical aspect of vocational education to enable the recipients acquire skills and reduce the over dependence on government paid jobs.