Skills Improvement Needs of Electronics Work Trade Teachers in Science and Technical Colleges in

The study determined the Skills improvement needs of electronics works trade teachers in science and technical colleges in North East, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. Two research questions was raised and answered and two corresponding hypotheses was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The population of the study consisted of 220 teachers of electronics works trade from 34 science and technical colleges, and 140 teachers was used as sample for the study. The instrument used for collection data was a 16 items structured questionnaire. The instrument was developed by the researchers after extensive literature review based on the specific objectives of the study. The instrument was validated by three research experts while the reliability index of 0.89 was obtained using Cronbach’s alpha. The findings of the study revealed that radio and electronic system repairs and maintenance, television repairs and maintenance skills improvement needs of electronics works trade teachers. The recommendations include among others that government and other training institution should improve skills of electronics work trade teachers in public science and technical colleges in television repairs and maintenance.


Introduction
The development of any nation, state or local government depends on its ability to harness and utilized effectively its material and human resources. In order to achieve this from the grass root electronic works trade was established in Nigerian science and technical colleges with the aim of producing craftsmen who will be self-reliant. Maxwell (2019) asserted that electronic works trade is designed to give training in the skills and impart the necessary attitudes that are needed in order to become an enterprising and self-reliant craftsmen or technicians in consumer electronics workmanship. Skills involve manipulating of tools and equipment, ability to carry out both preventive and corrective maintenance. Ogbuanya, Akintonde and Bakare (2017) viewed that skill training is a unique aspect of technical college programme that serve as an act of doing, making, manipulating and practicing the theoretical knowledge gained with uses of materials, tools and equipment. As craftsmen and technicians, it is expected that such programme should equip them to function well in the society. Electronic works trade is offered in Nigerian science and technical colleges with the requisite skills necessary for diagnosing and repairing electronic appliances. It is assumed that the graduate of colleges can further their education or set up their own workshop. Chijoke and Benchuks (2012) stated that the electronics work trade is aimed at training skilled technical manpower equipped with the necessary technical knowledge and practical skills for diagnosing and repairing faults in radio and television systems. These tasks are to be carried out by the student step by step before arriving at final stage of accomplishing the task. The finished product would be assessed by the teacher to find out if the objective of the training is achieved. Okwelle and Assor (2022) stated that electronics as one of the trade studied in technical and vocational centres covers electronics maintenance and repair, electronics appliance, electronics circuit reading, electronics measuring instrument power supply system, electronic instrumentation and control and radio and television among others. NABTEB (2020) stated that students of electronics works trade will be examined based on the following among others in radio communication: i. Block diagram of: radio transmitter, radio receiver.
ii. Carrier and modulation in transmitting and receiving radio signals. iii. Tuning and selectivity in a radio set. iv. Operation of each stage of radio receiver. v. Super heterodyne receiver: function of each block, advantages of super heterodyne. vi. Difference between AM and FM receiver limiter (for long city and long distances). A television according to Titlow (2012) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome (black and white) or coloured with or without accompanying sound. A standard television set comprises multiple internal electronic circuits including those for receiving and decoding broadcast signals. The extent to which the television serves it users depends on the type of receiving device that receives and decode the broadcast signals. Television module is that aspect of science and technical college's curriculum that equip students with skills of diagnosing fault in cathode ray tube television. According to NABTEB (2020) the electronics works trade under television component will be examined under the following subject among others: i. Sound and picture signals in a television: transmission, reception ii. Block diagram of a TV receiver: flow of signal, function of each stage iii. Function of typical areal receiver set iv. Frequency channels VHF and UHF bands and tuner v. Picture signalsformation vi. Scanning and synchronization vii. Different term used in picture quality: brightness, contrast, picture detail, aspect radio, viewing distance viii. Video signalsproduction of good picture quality ix. Processing of picture and sound signals in different stages of a black and white television set. x. Control of a TV receiver The teacher level of education is crucial factor to determine student's achievement. It was categorized according to the highest qualification the teachers obtained, namely Nigeria certificate in education, bachelors, masters or doctoral degrees. A number of studies have examined the ways in which teacher's highest qualifications are related to student's achievement. Many of the studies found that teacher's qualifications correspond positively with student's achievement (Antony & Elangkumaran, 2020). The importance of teacher in teaching and learning cannot be over emphasized. Therefore, teachers are needed to update their knowledge and skills, chose appropriate instructional facilities and methods of teaching. To address the issue of technological change and sustainable development, and need for educators to impart needful skills for self-reliance, Faruk (2005) asserted that teachers must be innovative and adopt a pragmatic entrepreneurial approach to teaching and learning so as to reduce the number of un unemployed young men and women who have for years been queuing for formal employment. Therefore, pragmatic approach is very important in teaching and learning electronic works trade in science and technical colleges. Umar (2014) states that for technical teacher to be regarded as competent they must have a wide knowledge of the subject matter. The training program offered by the technical colleges in the zone has failed to develop the skills required for employment notwithstanding the huge amount of money spent by government and non-governmental organization on electronic works trade. Kwa and Mahmud (2018) stated that despite the laudable objectives of electronics work trade some teachers still lack adequate maintenance skills which students can use for practical. This is what prompted the researcher to carry out a research to ascertain the skills improvement needs of electronic works trade teachers in science and technical colleges in North Eastern Nigeria with the view of finding useful suggestion that will solve the problems.

Statement of the Problem
Despite the huge amount of money spent by the government and non-governmental organization on vocational and technical education especially electronic works trade so as to make graduates self-reliant as stipulated in the national policy on education (FGN, 2013). Yet, this aim is not fully achieved. Asukwo (2018) also lamented that this trend of affairs indicates that training program offered by the technical colleges is not adequate to develop the skills required for employment within the region and beyond. As the world of technology is dynamics, there is need for teachers of electronic works trade to ensure that they comply with the recent technological advancement for effective teaching and learning. This will go a long way in providing productive graduate of electronics work trade at science and technical college level. This is supported by Ogbuanya et al, (2017) who asserted that the field of electrical and electronics technology is expanding and modern technology is bringing new electronics product. This implies that craftsmen and technicians are need to be equipped with required skills for quality services. Contrary to expectation, many are unable to do so. Therefore, the researcher observed that many electronic works trade graduates of science and technical colleges in the North -East Zone of Nigeria are not able to set up their own workshop after graduation. They end at moving on the street waiting for government employment due to the inadequate skills they received at science and technical colleges. This was confirmed by Chukuedo and Ainetor (2015) who stated that teachers of electronics work trade need to improve their skills in the used of tools and equipment to perform such maintenance faults diagnosis skills in order to carry out the maintenance and the actual repairs (corrective maintenance) skills. Despite the state of affairs about failure of electronics work trade teachers to impart adequate skills which will yield competent craftsmen who can repair and maintain television. Considering this issue at science and technical college level in the north eastern Nigeria, it is difficult to ascertain if the aim of the course is adequately achieved. Similarly, studies conducted over the years has failed to focus on skills improvement needs of electronics works trade teachers at science and technical college level. This has prompted the researcher to fill in this existing gap.

Objectives
The broad objective of this study is to identify skills improvement needs of electronic works trade teachers in science and technical college in North-East, Nigeria. Specifically, this study sought to: 1. Determine repairs and maintenance skills improvement needs of electronic works trade teachers in radio and electronics system servicing 2. Determine repairs and maintenance skills improvement needs of electronic works trade teachers in television servicing.

Research Questions
In line with research objectives these research questions were raised: 1. What are the repairs and maintenance skills improvement needs of electronic works trade teachers in radio and electronics system servicing? 2. What are the repairs and maintenance skills improvement needs of electronic works trade teachers in television servicing?

Hypothesis
The following hypotheses were formulated to guide the study and were tested at .05 level of significance. H01.There is no significance difference between the mean responses of N C E teachers and B Tech teachers in the repairs and maintenance skills improvement needs in radio and electronics system servicing. H02. There is no significance difference between the mean responses of N C E teachers and B Tech teachers in the repairs and maintenance skills improvement needs in television servicing

Methodology
The study adopted a descriptive survey research design.  (Enemali, 2010). The reliability index obtained was 0.89. The researchers with the four research assistants administered the instrument. The completed instrument was collected after two days this is because some of the respondents are not available in the first day of administering. The descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation was used to answer the research questions. The cut-off point of 3.0 was used. Therefore, mean responses of 3.0 and above was considered as needed while means responses of less than 3.0 was considered as not needed by the respondents. The hypotheses were tested using t-test at 0.05 significant levels using SSPS version 25.

Research Question 1:
What are the repairs and maintenance skills improvement needs of electronic works trade teachers in radio and electronics system servicing?  Table 1 was used to answer research question 1 regarding radio and electronic system repairs and maintenance skills improvement responses by electronics work trade teachers in science and technical colleges in North-East, Nigeria. The result revealed that all the items exceed the cut-off point of 3.0 as an acceptance region, with the grand mean of 3.48 and standard deviation of 1.07. This implies that radio and electronics system repairs and maintenance teachers need skills improvement on all the fifteen items.

Research Question 2:
What are the repairs and maintenance skills improvement needs of electronic works trade teachers in television servicing?

100
an acceptance region, with the grand mean of 3.47 and standard deviation of 1.040. This implies that television repairs and maintenance teachers need skills improvement on all the sixteen items.
Hypothesis One: There is no significance difference between the mean responses of NCE teachers and B. Tech teachers in the repairs and maintenance skills improvement needs in radio and electronics system servicing.  Table 3 showed a computed t-test result for the difference of teachers of electronics works trade based on their qualification on skills improvement needs in radio and electronics system in colleges of North-East Nigeria. The result shows a significant difference (t (138) = 2.36, p = 0.020< 0.05), since the calculated p-value is less than the tabulated p-value as level of significant, Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected.
The finding revealed that there is significant difference based on qualification on skills improvement needs in radio and electronic system in colleges of North-East Nigeria.

Hypothesis two:
There is no significance difference between the mean responses of NCE teachers and B. Tech teachers in the repairs and maintenance skills improvement needs in television servicing  Table 4 showed a computed t-test result for the difference of teachers of electronics works trade based on their qualification on skills improvement needs in television repairs and maintenance in colleges of North-East Nigeria. The result shows a significant difference (t (138) = 0.721, p = 0.000 < 0.05), since the calculated p-value is less than the tabulated p-value as level of significant, Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected. The finding revealed that there is significant difference on qualification on skills improvement needs in television repairs and maintenance in colleges of North-East Nigeria.
Findings of Study 1. Radio and electronic system repairs and maintenance skills improvement needs of electronics work trade teachers involves the ability to clear fault using signal tracer, ability to repair fault due to adjacent channel interference and image channel interference, ability to carry out receiver performance test to verify the specification of the system, and ability to bias oscillation tuning. 2. Television repairs and maintenance skills improvement needs of electronics work trade teachers involves the ability to operate the colour bar generator to test signal, ability to identify the symptoms and clear faults common to each stage of coloured TV set, ability to trace and rectify faults of remote control and ability to check power supply and front panel control. 3. There is significant difference between the responses of teachers with NCE and B. Tech qualification on their skills improvement needs in radio and electronics system. 4. There is significant difference between the responses of teachers with NCE and B. Tech qualification on their skills improvement needs in television repairs and maintenance.

Discussion of Findings
The result of research question one in table 1 which was on radio and electronics system skills improvement needs of electronics teachers. Data analyzed for research question one revealed that all the 15 Items as being skills improvement needs of electronics works trade teachers in radio and electronics system servicing. These findings are in agreement with idea of Chukuedo and Ainetor (2015) who stated that teachers of electronics work trade need to improve their skills in the used of tools and equipment to perform such maintenance faults diagnosis skills in order to carry out the maintenance and the actual repairs (corrective maintenance) skills. Kwa and Mahmud (2018) also mentioned that advance in technology challenges teachers to constantly introduce and demonstrate new technologies to their students to better prepare them to enter technological advance world of work. In order to meet industry needs, technical colleges teachers must continue to stay on forefront of technology and pedagogy. To meet these demands, these teachers need inservice training opportunities from both educational institutions and industries. It is through in-service training that such teachers are able to expand their knowledge and improve their pedagogical skills so they are better able to serve their students and community in which they teach. With respect to the corresponding hypothesis, the data presented in  in table 2 which was repairs and maintenance in television skills improvement needs of electronics works trade teachers. It was found that teachers of electronics work trade in science and technical colleges in north east, Nigeria need improvement in all the identified skills. This finding is in conformity with Eze and Ekemu (2016) who said that teachers also need to improve their teaching process by partaking in in-service training to update their competences aimed at up skilling technical college students to enable them adjust to the world of paid employment or self-reliance on graduation. Joseph, Makinde and Yakubu (2018) who stated that radio, television and electronics work trade teachers need training in radio, television and electronics work. With respect to the corresponding hypothesis in table 4 the null hypothesis was rejected and accepted the alternative hypothesis as there is significant difference based on qualification on skills improvement needs in television repairs and maintenance in science and technical colleges in North East, Nigeria. This finding is in agreement with Antony and Elangkumaran (2020) who stated that The teacher level of education is crucial factor to determine student's achievement. It was categorized according to the highest qualification the teachers obtained, namely Nigeria certificate in education, bachelors, masters or doctoral degrees. A number of studies have examined the ways in which teacher's highest qualifications are related to student's achievement. Many of the studies found that teacher's qualifications correspond positively with student's achievement.

Conclusion
The importance of skills improvement needs of electronics works trade teachers cannot be over emphasized. This is because whenever the skills of the teachers are improved their output will also increase. These contribute to achieve the aims and objectives of science and technical colleges in the north eastern Nigeria. It is therefore necessary to identify skills improvement needs of electronics works trade teachers in radio and electronics system servicing and television repairs and maintenance. The findings of the study revealed that there is need to improve the skills of electronics works trade teachers in the area such as ability to carry out the investigation of pulse generator stage, ability to operate identify the symptoms and clear faults common to each stage of a coloured TV set and ability to operate various electronic instrument to clear faults in television set.