An Examination Of Training Needs Assessment Of Academic Staff Of Bolgatanga Polytechnic

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine the training needs of academic staff of Bolgatanga Polytechnic. The general objective of this study is to determine the training needs of academic staff of Bolgatanga Polytechnic. In furtherance of the general objective, the study sought specifically to examine training policies are adopted by Bolgatanga Polytechnic for its academic staff, identify training needs of academic staff for current and future job assignments, explore methods employed by management of Bolgatanga Polytechnic in conducting training needs assessments of the academic staff, examine the challenges of training needs assessment, and make recommendations to improve training needs assessment.

The study used census survey to solicit the views of academic staff of Bolgatanga Polytechnic. Structured questionnaires were administered to all the 106 academic staff of Bolgatanga Polytechnic concerning issues of staff training and development policy and training needs assessment. The study used Statistical Product for Service Solution (SPSS) version 16.0 to analyse the date.

The study revealed that there is a staff development policy for the polytechnic. There are existing conditions under which academic staffs of the Polytechnic are given training. Training needs assessment was not carried out before training. It was recommended that the existing staff development policy should be modified to make room for training needs assessment and then, management of the Polytechnic should task Departments’ Heads or Deans to identify and document specific training and development needs of academic staff.