Title: Availability and Adequacy of Tools and Equipment for Building Trades in Vocational Education Centres in Delta State, Nigeria
Authors: ORHU, Augustine, Prof. Umunadi, Ejiwoke Kennedy, Prof. Odu Kennedy Oji
Volume: 9
Issue: 8
Pages: 180-186
Publication Date: 2025/08/28
Abstract:
This study evaluated the adequacy of tools and equipment for training in building trades-specifically brick/blocklaying, carpentry, and plumbing-in vocational education centres across Delta State, Nigeria, with emphasis on disparities between urban and rural locations. Guided by three research questions and three hypotheses, the study employed a descriptive survey design. The population consisted of trainers and workshop attendants in state-owned vocational education centres offering building trades. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire developed with reference to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) resource checklist. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) were used to answer the research questions, while independent samples t-tests were employed to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that tools and equipment for building trades were generally inadequate across the centres. Urban centres reported moderately adequate provision, whereas rural centres fell consistently below adequacy thresholds. Significant differences were found between urban and rural centres in the adequacy of brick/blocklaying, carpentry, and plumbing tools, with urban centres advantaged in each case. The study concludes that vocational education centres in Delta State, particularly those in rural areas, lack the essential tools required for effective training and skill acquisition. It recommends increased government investment in tool provision, equitable resource distribution, public-private partnerships for equipment support, regular monitoring and maintenance of resources, and targeted policies to close the urban-rural gap in vocational training facilities.