COMPETENCIES NEEDED BY STUDENTS OF TECHNICAL COLLEGES IN DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL INSTALLATION

Abstract

The study was undertaken to fulfill the need of the future and continuity of domestic and
industrial installation in the society through adequate competency acquisition by technical college
students that constitute the main source of workforce in electrical installation on successful
graduation. It was pertinent to carry out this study since the National Business and Technical
Examination (NBTE) showed consistent poor performance of students of electrical installation
trade. The study focused on the competencies needed by technical college students of electrical
installation trade. Two research questions guided the study. A survey research design was adopted.
The instrument used was a 58 item questionnaire that elicited information from students on the
needed competencies in domestic and industrial installation. The questionnaire was administered
on the 170 final year students of electrical installation and retrieved by the researcher. The
reliability of the instrument was determined by using Cronbach alpha which yielded 0.84. The data
collected from the respondents were analyzed using a five point scale. The means and standard
deviations were determined and any item that scored 3.50 and above were regarded as being needed
by respondents. From the data analyzed, it was found that students require competencies in
domestic and industrial installation. Many aspects including carrying out connections of single and
poly phase distribution boards, explaining of working drawings and IEE regulations, installation of
generators and electric motors, performing effective earthing and others were found to be needed
by students.