STRATEGIES FOR MITIGATING FACTORS MILITATING LIFELONG LEARNING AMONGST TECHNICAL EDUCATORS IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

By C.O. Ochogba, N.P Ikenyiri & Ogide C.G

Abstract: The study examined strategies for mitigating factors militating lifelong learning amongst technical educators in Colleges of education in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study was a mixed research using an exploratory research design. For the qualitative phase, researchers selected 10 technical educators, comprising 6 male and 4 female technical educators in federal college of education (technical), Omoku through purposive sampling method. The selected respondents were each engaged by the researchers on an online interview. For qualitative data analysis, the researchers adopted typological analysis. A pre-determined set of coding schemes were used to sort the statements into themes and sub-themes. For the quantitative phase, two specific objectives were formulated to examine professional development and institutional strategies for mitigating factors militating lifelong learning amongst technical educators in Colleges of education in Rivers State, Nigeria. The population of the study was 71 technical educators (comprising 55 male and 16 female technical educators) in colleges of education in Rivers State. The population was manageable, hence the study was a census study. Survey questionnaire was used for data collection and it was structured in the pattern of 5 point Likert rating scale of agreement. The instrument was face validated by technical education experts. The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach Alpha Reliability Coefficient. The reliability coefficient achieved was .86. Mean and Standard Deviation were used to answer the research questions and to ascertain the homogeneity of responses, while t-test was used to test the hypotheses at .05 level of significance. The study found that economic, teacher related, psychological, pedagogical, technology related, family related, managerial and government related factors are factors militating lifelong learning amongst technical educators in Colleges of education in Rivers State, Nigeria. Also, the study found that training educators in information technology communication, pairing of young lecturers with older lecturers, creating departmental/faculty study groups for educators to share ideas encouraging educators to set annual learning goals, organizing professional seminars for lifelong learning amongst educators, providing adequate information and communication technologies, regular review of technical education curriculum to integrate modern ideas and good working conditions such as salary increment, allowance and others are strategies for mitigating factors militating lifelong learning amongst technical educators in Colleges of education in Rivers State, Nigeria. Therefore, it was recommended mentorship programme in technical education should be strengthened so that junior technical educators can learn from more experienced educators.
Keywords: Colleges, Education, Educators, Learning, Lifelong and Technical