UTILIZATION OF EQUIPMENT FOR TEACHING PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE IN FEDERAL COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN NORTH EAST ZONE OF NIGERIA FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the utilization of equipment for teaching practical Agriculture in Federal Colleges of Education in the North East Zone of Nigeria for national development. Two research questions were formulated to guide the study, survey research design was adopted for the study, the population of the study comprised of 1, 038 NCE I and II agricultural education students and their teachers in three Federal Colleges of Education in the North East Zone of Nigeria. A sample size of 363 respondents (72 teachers and 150 NCE 1 students as well as 141 NCE 11 students making the sample size of 291 students) was used for the study. The instrument used for data collection was structured questionnaire titled Utilization of Practical Equipment Questionnaire (UPEQ) designed by the researchers, the instrument was subjected to face validity by three experts and the reliability of the instrument was established by trial testing and reliability coefficient of 0.81 was obtained using Spearman Brown Step up (Prophecy) formula. Data collected were analyzed using mean. The findings revealed that 34 out of 52 equipment for teaching practical Agriculture in COE were functional while 18 were not functional also 25 out of 52 equipment for teaching practical Agriculture in COE were utilized while 27 were not utilized. The study recommended that departments offering Agricultural education programs should look beyond funds from the proprietors and authorities of Colleges of Education through sponsorship and partnership with industries, non-governmental organizations, philanthropists and international donors for assistance in terms of adequacy of practical equipment