SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SKILLS REQUIRED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC TRADE TEACHERS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES IN BENUE STATE.

ABSTRACT

The study determined “solar photovoltaic skills required for developing electrical and electronic trade teachers in science and technical colleges in Benue State” with a view of finding information that will help solve low level of solar photovoltaic installation and maintenance skills acquisition aimed at job creation. Two research questions guided the study while two null hypotheses were formulated. A descriptive survey research design was adopted with a population size of 100 and a purposive sample of 55 electrical and electronic trade teachers selected. A 29 item structured questionnaire instrument was developed by the researchers and validated by three experts from the Department Vocational and Technical Education, Benue State University, Makurdi and used for data collection. Data was analyzed using mean and standard deviation while t-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study found out that all the solar photovoltaic installation and maintenance skills identified were required to develop electrical and electronic trade teachers in science and technical colleges. The study also revealed a significant difference in the mean rating responses of technical college teachers who have worked for below five years and those above five years and attributed these differences to their learning experiences.  It was recommended among others the inclusion of the identified skills in the technical college curriculum and the organization of frequent training courses and seminars for electrical and electronic trade teachers on solar photovoltaic installation and maintenance skills required to develop their competencies.

Keywords: Solar Photovoltaic Skills, Electrical & Electronic Trade Teachers, Installation and Maintenance.