FACTORS HINDERING THE EFFECTIVE TEACHING OF VOCATIONAL COURSES IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

ABSTRACT
This research study examined the factors hindering effective teaching of vocational courses in Nigerian universities. The work aims at identifying the constraints to the effective teaching of vocational education programme in Nigerian higher institutions. It also aimed at ascertaining the availability and use of teaching aids in teaching and learning of vocational/technical courses in the Nigerian universities. In the course of achieving the objectives of the study, a questionnaire was designed and administered on students of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. The Likert scale response type questionnaire comprises of 20 items. And they were scored as follows: Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree and Strongly Disagreed. The research findings showed that there is a poor attitudinal disposition to vocational courses in Nigerian universities; the study also found that there is a dearth of infrastructures in the Nigerian universities. This situation coupled with the luke warm attitude of government towards the educational sector is affecting the growth of vocational courses in the Nigerian universities.  And as such the researchers made the following recommendations: There is need also for these governmental agencies to organize workshops from time to time to keep instructors abreast of the new approaches to teaching some vocational education topics, curriculum planners should constantly review the contents of the VTE to see whether there are some topics that need be deleted. There is need for equipping the universities with audio visual and other teaching aids to aid teachers’ efforts in teaching vocational courses and to foster understanding among students.  And lecturers should be encouraged by paying them relevant allowances as at when due.