A STUDY INTO PRACTICAL SKILLS ACQUISITION OF WELDING STUDENTS: A CASE STUDY AT ST. JOHN’S VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, IN THE NANDOM DISTRICT OF UPPER WEST REGION

ABSTRACT

This study sought to investigate the factors that affect acquisition of skills among the welding students of St. John‟s Vocational Technical of the Nandom District of the Upper West Region. It intends to seek the opinion of students‟ attitude towards welding programmed regarding the Vocational/Technical Skills offered to them. To see whether or not how the qualification of the teachers can influence the learners/students‟ acquisition of skills? That is to say if the teacher is qualified and knows the subject matter, he/she will be able to deliver and influence the student. For that matter, he/she could even simplified the learning procedures for students to grasp the essence of the skills been taught. On the other hand, lf the teacher has a very little knowledge in a particular training concept would make the training boring and will not be able to arose the interest of the students. Through the findings of this study, the poor attitude of some students and the general public attitude towards practical skills training may be addressed. The researcher adopted a descriptive survey design which involved two sets of questionnaires with closed ended, forty questionnaires items for welding students and thirty-six questionnaires items for the technical teachers. The target population includes seventy (70) students and twenty-two (22) teachers, all of St. John‟s Vocational technical institute-Nandom. Finally, the major findings were found on four (4) Tables and three (3) figures in chapter 4. On the Table 4.2 51(73%) of the respondents endorsed the statement that, many people do not really respect technical men and women. Ghana government has not been able to supply enough tools and equipment to Technical and Vocational Institution. Students‟ should put pride aside and learn the skills. This testified that some students had negative attitude towards practical skills training and as such reluctant to take the practical training very seriously for their own good.