Assessment of The Informal Sector Electrical Craft Practice And Apprenticeship Training in Minna Metropolis

ABSTRACT

The study was designed to assess the informal sector electrical craft practice and apprenticeship training. The informal electrical master craftsmen have a low educational background and have not acquired adequate theoretical knowledge to practice the Craft effectively and the governments have not given adequate attention by formulating adequate policies and regulations for craft practices and apprenticeship training. The population of the study consisted of 54 electrical master craftsmen and 20 apprentices, given a total population of 74 craftsmen. Sampling was not necessary since the population size could be managed effectively. Four research questions were posed and four null hypotheses were tested. Structured questionnaire was used which comprised 70 items and was face validated by three experts in Industrial Technical Education. Cronbach Alpha co-efficient formula was used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument and yielded reliability coefficient of 0.892. Frequency counts, percentages, and mean statistic were used to answer the four research questions; ttest was used to test the four null hypotheses at 0.05 significant levels. Major findings of the study include: Informal sector electrical master craftsmen has low educational qualification at secondary school level and below. The master craftsmen have not acquired adequate theoretical skills to practice the craft and apprentices are trained mostly in technical skills devoid of theory. Apprentices are trained in the old traditional method, no entry requirements and graduation time unspecified. Recommendations made include: Informal sector electrical craft practice and apprenticeship training should be recognized by law or an Act of National Assembly through appropriate legislation and policies formulation to regulate the crafts practices and apprenticeship training. The master craftsmen should enroll in sandwich diploma programmes to acquire theoretical knowledge to be able to practice the craft effectively in this world of sophisticated technology.