Technical Skills Education in Colleges of Education in Ghana: The Challenges and Suggested Strategies to Effective Teaching and Learning

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the challenges militating against technical skills effectively taught and acquired in Ghana's colleges of education. The data was gathered through structured questionnaires with purposively sampled 214 final-year (level 400) technical students and 26 technical tutors totalling 240. The data from the questionnaires were analysed using SPSS version 21 and described using the means. Some of the findings were: (i) Lack of well-equipped workshops with adequate tools and machines coupled with materials for practical lessons.  The absence of these facilities and resources is a threat to the rationale of career technology in the basic schools where these students are been trained for. (ii) Insufficient teaching and learning resources, and not having enough money to buy and maintain useful equipment. (iii) Lack of drive to pique tutors' interest and commitment to plan practical activitiess. (iv) Lack of hard work on the part of students (v) Poor foundation of students in technical subjects from the SHS. Based on these findings, it was recommended that for effective teaching and learning of technical skills to happen in the colleges of education; (i) The government should revamp existing workshops in the nine (9) technical colleges of education and provide modern well-equipped workshops with adequate tools, machines and materials for technical colleges without workshops to enable tutors to involve students in practical lessons. (ii) The provision of sufficient teaching and learning resources and enough funds by the management of colleges of education for the technical department for effective teaching.