Evaluation of Societal Needs for Government Technical Colleges’ Curriculum in Gombe State

Abstract

This research evaluated the societal needs for government technical college curriculum in Gombe State, three research questions were designed to guide the study. The study adopted a survey research design. The population for this study comprised three main groups: students, educators, and industry employers. A total of 200 stakeholders were sampled, with a breakdown as follows: 80 students, 50 educators, and 70 industry employers. The students were randomly selected while the entire population of educators were used as sample from the Government Science and technical colleges within Gombe Metropolis, and the industry employers were purposively selected from a range of industries within Gombe State. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire, designed to capture the perceptions and views of respondents on various aspects of the technical school curriculum. The reliability of the instrument was determined using the split-half method, yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.72, which indicated a satisfactory level of consistency. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation, and findings clearly suggests a positive perception of how well the curriculum aligns with the technical skill requirements in the local labor, there is consensus among respondents that technical education is vital for addressing industry needs, improving employment opportunities, and bridging skill gaps, results also underscore the need for updates to the curriculum, stronger industry partnerships, and a more focused effort to bridge skill gaps, especially in high-demand technical fields. However, most stakeholders believe the curriculum is effective in preparing students for societal challenges, job markets, and the workforce. The study concluded that there is a clear need for reform in the technical school curriculum in Gombe State, therefore several recommendation were provided and suggestions were made for further research.