ENHANCING QUALITY OF OFFICE TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME FOR SELF EMPOWERMENT OF GRADUATING STUDENTS OF POLYTECHNICS IN SOUTH WEST, NIGERIA
Dr T.E. Adenekan & Clement Boluwaji Elemure
Abstract
Quality of Office Technology and Management in Polytechnics is fundamental for the programme to fulfil its goal of producing competent graduates. However, research revealed that the quality of Office Technology and Management (OTM) programme in polytechnics is perceived to be low. This has adversely affected the graduates from acquiring the basic skills that are needed for self empowerment. Self empowerment is essential for job success, establishment and efficient management of one’s enterprising initiatives. Hence, this study examined how the quality of OTM programme could be enhanced for self empowerment of graduating students of Polytechnics in South Western States, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of this study consists of 507 academic staff and higher national diploma graduating students in the department of Office Technology and Management in public polytechnics in six states of South West, Nigeria, made up of 80 academic staff and 427 higher national diploma graduating students. Total enumeration was used for academic staff and a sample of 205 graduating students determined through Krejcie and Morgan formula. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that the quality of OTM programme in Polytechnics in South West, Nigeria is low and the self empowerment ability of OTM graduating students is equally low. The study concluded that quality of office technology and management programme is a determinant for self empowerment of its graduates in polytechnics. The study recommended that management of institutions should set up quality councils that will evaluate the teaching learning process to ensure and sustain quality, based on the specifications of the curriculum of OTM programme.
