MATERIAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES OF WOODWORK TEACHERS IN TECHNICAL COLLEGES IN KOGI STATE

Abstract

The study was carried out to investigate the material resource management responsibilities of woodwork teachers in technical colleges in Kogi State. Six research questions were developed and six null hypotheses were formulated. A survey research design  was  used.  The  population  for  the  study  was  91  woodwork  teacher  and supervisors in woodwork industries in Kogi State. The entire population was used for the  study and  there  was  no  sample.  The  instrument  used  for data  collection  was structured questionnaire. Cronbach alpha reliability method was used to determine the internal consistency of the questionnaire items and reliability coefficient value of 0.82 was obtained. Mean was used to analyze data for answering research questions while t-test was used to test hypotheses of no significant difference at 0.05 level of significance.  The  findings  of  the  study  revealed  that  the  following  number  of planning, organizing, coordinating, controlling, monitoring and evaluating responsibilities were required for material resource management: planning responsibilities 20, organizing responsibilities 12, coordinating responsibilities 16, controlling responsibilities 10, monitoring responsibilities 12 and evaluating responsibilities 16.  The finding also revealed that there was no significant difference in the mean responses of woodwork teachers and supervisors in the industries on the planning, organizing, coordinating, controlling, monitoring and evaluating responsibilities for material resource management in technical colleges. It was recommended  that  State  or  federal  government  should  organize  workshop  and seminars  for woodwork  teachers  and  instructors  on  various management responsibilities for effective management of material resources in technical colleges in Kogi State.

Background of the Study

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

There   are   many   technical   colleges   established   by  State   and   Federal? Government  in  Kogi  State.    They offer  woodwork  technology  in  order  to  equip individuals with knowledge, skills and attitudes, but most of the material resources meant  for  training  students  in  woodwork  are  bad,  which  seems  to  convey  the impression of lack of proper management of these material resources in woodwork.

Woodwork is one of the courses in the curriculum of technical colleges in which students learn skills. Olaoye (2001) viewed woodwork as a subject which deals with activities or skills of making things from wood. In technical colleges, woodwork students develop skills in using machines for carpentry and joinery, furniture making and upholstery works. According to the Report of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) (2001) woodwork at technical college level is designed to produce competent craftsmen, who will use the skills learnt to either make or repair damaged materials made from wood. Kelvin (2010) stated that woodwork is a vocational area where  furniture  are built, made or carved  using wood. The skills, knowledge and attitudes in Woodwork are transmitted to students by Woodwork teachers in technical colleges.

Nwachukwu, Bakare and Jika (2009) explained that technical colleges are institutions  where  students  are  trained  with the  relevant  and  adequate  knowledge, skills and attitudes for employment under the guidance of   teachers in related occupations  (woodwork  inclusive).   According  to Ede, Miller  and Bakare (2010), technical colleges are institutions where vocational subjects are offered by students in

order to acquire skills. Students in Technical Colleges are expected to be trained with relevant  tools and  equipment  for skill acquisition  under  the guidance  of teachers. Okoro (2006) stated that technical colleges are regarded as the principal vocational institutions in Nigeria that give full vocational training intended to prepare students for entry into various occupations. Nigerian technical colleges according to the report of Federal Government of Nigeria (2004) train students in technical and vocational courses such as Auto mechanics, Plumbing, Electrical installation and maintenance practice, Computer studies, Building and Woodwork. These vocational courses are taught by teachers who have been certificated as technical teachers and qualified to teach the technical courses like plumbing, electrical/ electronic, building, woodwork and several others.

A woodwork teacher is a person who is trained in pedagogy and technical skills and knowledge of woodwork and is charged with the responsibility of teaching skills and attitudes to students in technical colleges. These teachers are sometimes called instructors.  They also instruct the students on what to do during practical classes. Other  roles  and  responsibilities  of  Woodwork  teachers  apart  from  teaching  of woodwork skills to students under their control include maintaining and managing all the material resources in the workshop.

Material resource is an asset in the form of possession. Nzewi (1995) described material resource as a range of resources, which the teachers frequently use and are more   familiar   with.   Material   resources   according   to   Olaitan,   Igbo,   Ekong, Nwachukwu and Onyemachi (1999) are those facilities, equipment and machines used in the laboratory and factory for production purposes. In educational sector, material

resources required for effective teaching and learning include books, films, pictures used by teachers and students to provide information in addition to other valuables like computers and projectors. In woodwork, material resources include wood, planks, plywood, relevant hand tools, machines, and portable power tools, chemicals, paints, consumables like adhesives, abrasives and nails. These resources need proper management for acquisition of skills through practical activities and effective teaching and learning purposes. They are also monitored by the woodwork teacher which will invariably make room for effective teaching and learning in the workshop if properly managed.

Management according to Anyakoha (2010) is a planned activity directed towards realization of values, the satisfaction of wants and accomplishment of desired end.  Weihrich  and  Koontz  (2003)  also  referred  to management  as  the process of designing and maintaining an environment in which people work together efficiently accomplishing selected objectives through planning, organizing, implementing and evaluating.  It  may  involve  the  art  of  planning,  organizing,  implementing  and evaluating  tools, equipment, and  consumables  by teachers in order  to achieve  the objectives of woodwork programmes in technical colleges. Management of material resources is necessary to ensure the realization of the objectives of woodwork. Management of material resource according to Lilaroja (2010) is the efficient and effective deployment of? An organization’s resources when they are needed. Olaitan, Igbo, Ekong, Nwachukwu and Onyemachi (1999) said that prudent management leads to the exercise of control, to ensure effective usage of available resources.

Woodwork teachers require skills and knowledge’s in determining types and quantities  of  materials  needed  in  the  workshop,  stock  and  supplies,  storage  of materials, inventory control and automation. The management responsibilities of woodwork teachers in types and quantities of materials needed  include stating the types of materials for a job, specifying maker, types, size and quantities of equipment and materials such as tools, machines  and consumables for proper  running of the workshop. Their responsibilities in stocks and supplies include checking the level of stock to determine when to reorder. Woodwork teachers apart from their teaching role have responsibilities  in proper storage of materials.  They carefully select  material resources for practical activities in order to avoid damage, arrange and organize tools and machines according to their uses or functions, name, type, and colour for safety and easy identification at a glance. Among the management responsibilities of woodwork teachers in inventory control are check up stores to ensure that items are received according to specification, maintain stores and stock registers up to date and ready  to  furnish  all  the  required  information  about  stores  as  at  when  asked. Periodically checking the rotating parts of a machine, servicing and maintenance of power tools and machines to ensure running of wood work laboratories is also part of the  management  responsibilities  of  teachers.  Management  of  material  resources cannot  be  effectively carried  out in any organization  without  someone  taking  the responsibility of doing it.

Responsibility  according  to  Jeremie  (2008)  is  a  social  force  that  binds somebody to a course of action demanded by the force. Marriam (2008) stated that teacher   responsibilities   are   the   duties   the   teacher   obligatorily   perform   using

educational resources for effective teaching and learning. Responsibility of woodwork teachers in the management of material resources meant for teaching and learning woodwork  in  technical  colleges  in  Kogi  State  becomes  imperative.  One  of  the objectives of woodwork at technical college level is to equip students with skills and knowledge’s to design,  construct or repair damaged  structures  and  furniture made from wood. This objective cannot be realized with total dependence on only human resources without good management of material resources. It is the responsibility of the woodwork teachers to manage these material resources in order to avoid damages, wastages and accidents in the workshops. Muhammed (2006) observed that most of the workshop facilities in many technical institutions are poorly managed for instructional  activities.  The  implication  of  this  is  that  the  woodwork  teachers  in technical colleges in Kogi state who are involved with handling material resources ought to possess management responsibilities of planning, organizing, coordinating, implementing,  monitoring,  evaluating,  controlling  and  material  automation  for the attainment of instructional goals.

Planning is determination of courses of action to achieve desired goals. It is a systematic  thinking  about  ways  and  means for accomplishment  of pre-determined goals. Planning according to Microsoft (2009) is necessary to ensure proper utilization of human and non-human resources. It is all pervasive and intellectual activity and it also  helps  in  avoiding  confusion,  uncertainties,  risks  and  wastages.  According  to Koontz (2010), planning is deciding in advance – what to do, when to do and how to do. The author further added that planning bridges the gap from where one is and where he/she wants to be. Osuala (2004) also said that planning entails deciding what

work is to be done and plan to accomplish it. Woodwork teachers require planning responsibilities for effective material resources management. Planning responsibilities of woodwork teachers include plan a practical work based on the available material resources in the workshop, set standard for woodwork practical activities, determine type of material resources meant for practical in the workshop and state clearly the role to be performed by the students in a practical lesson.

Organizing  is the  function  of management  which  follows  planning.  It is a function  in  which  the  synchronization  and  combination  of  human,  physical  and financial resources take place. It refers to how work is to be divided and coordinated. Microsoft (2009) stated that organizing is the process of bringing together physical, financial and human resources and developing productive relationship amongst them for achievement of organizational goals. Henry (2010) said that to organize a business is to provide it with everything useful or its functioning, that is, raw material, tools, capital  and  personnel.  Chester  (2010)  also  described  organizing  as a  function  by which the concern is able to define the role positions, the jobs related and the co- ordination  between  authority and  responsibility.  Hence,  a manager  always  has  to organize  in  order  to  get  results.  Organizing  responsibilities  of  teachers  therefore involves arrangement of material resources, handled and coordinated for teaching and learning purposes and to avoid damages.

Controlling   refers   to   setting   standards,   measuring   performance   against standards and taking corrective action as needed. It implies measurement of accomplishment  against the standards and correction of deviation  if any to ensure achievement  of organizational  goals.  The purpose  of controlling  is to  ensure  that

everything occurs in conformities with the standards. According to Theo (2008) controlling is the process of checking whether or not proper progress is being made towards the objectives and goals and acting if necessary, to correct any deviation. Koontz and O’Donnell (2009) also said that controlling is the measurement and correction of performance  activities of subordinates in order to make sure that the enterprise objectives and plans desired to obtain them as being accomplished.  The authors   further   stated   that   controlling   involves;   establishment   of   standard performance, measurement of actual performance, comparison of actual performance with the standards and finding out deviation if any and corrective action. Controlling in  this  study  therefore  involves  guiding  individuals  in  the  proper  handling  of woodwork material resources meant for training to prevent misuse or damages in the workshop.

Coordinating  involves synchronizing  the activities  of various persons in the organization in order to achieve goals. Coordinating according to Microsoft (2009) involves making different people or things work together to achieve a goal. Coordinating  deals with the task of blending  efforts in order to ensure successful attainment of an objective. It is accomplished by means of planning, organizing and controlling. It is a part of all phases of administration and that is not a separate and distinct  activity.  Robert  (2010)  described  coordinating  as  management  activities related to achieving an efficient use of resources to attain the organization’s goals and objectives. Coordinating therefore entails how individuals should be guided or supervised  for  proper  uses  of  material  resources  for  practical  activities  in  the workshop to avoid damage or misuse in order to achieve stated learning objectives.

Monitoring is a way of looking after the activities of somebody in order to meet stated objective. Monitoring responsibilities of woodwork teachers therefore include duties   to  be   carried   out   to  make   woodwork   material  resources   management achievable. These duties include monitoring the activities of students or supporting staff when working on machines, checking for functionality of each machine before use,  checking  whether  individuals  observe  safety  precautionary  measures  while working in the workshop, give approval to students or supporting staff before using any material resources and making sure all the material resources given to students are returned after practical classes.

Evaluation,  in  the  context  of management  activities,  is  carefully  collecting information about something in order to make necessary decisions about it. Evaluation according  to the Report of Free  Management  Library (2010) is closely related  to performance management (whether about organizations, groups, processes or individuals), which includes identifying measures to indicate results. Evaluation often includes collecting information around these measures to conclude the extent of performance.  Evaluation  responsibilities  also involve  determining  the adequacy of available woodwork equipment for practical lesson, examining how each of the woodwork machines is used during practical activities, conducting process evaluation of students in the use of material resource for practicals in the workshop, determining the quantity of wastage of material resources during practical lessons for possible correction of errors and determining the level of damage of tools and machines in the workshop   for   possible   retraining   of   students   on   their   uses.   Management responsibilities are needed by woodwork teachers in technical colleges in Kogi State.

They are supposed  to know their responsibilities  in managing  woodwork material resources.

The extent to which teachers perform their functions depend on their exposure and possession of relevant management skills and knowledge’s in material resources in  woodwork.  Proper  management  of  material  resources  by  teachers  is  what guarantees the attainment of effective functioning/ utilization of hand and power tools, the inculcation of desired skills, knowledges and attitudes to the learners and thereby leading to the achievement of the stated objectives. The researcher is of the opinion that the identification of material resource management responsibilities of woodwork teachers will be panacea to the problems of poor management and control of material resources that have lingered in technical colleges in Kogi State. The question begging for an answer is whether woodwork teachers in Technical colleges in Kogi State are having these material resources management responsibilities in them.

Statement of the Problem

There are many technical colleges in Kogi State offering woodwork technology in order to equip individuals with knowledge, skills and attitudes. But most of the material resources meant for training students in order to acquire skills in woodwork are bad due to lack of management skills?. It is disheartening to say that woodwork teachers in technical colleges in Kogi State are not properly managing the material resources meant for teaching and learning of woodwork. Could this be attributed to lack of management responsibilities on the part of teachers in the management of the material resources? Woodwork teachers in technical colleges are not effectively managing and utilizing material resources provided for teaching vocational subjects.

This could be attributed to ill preparedness and incompetence of these teachers in the management of material resources made available to Technical Colleges. This is made manifest in the abandonment of large number of imported woodworking machines, portable power tools and hand tools lying waste outside coupled with large number of laboratory equipment, machines and instructional materials scattered without proper organization.

Another disturbing aspect is the frequent cases of damaged tools and disappearances of some parts of power tools and hand tools from store/ workshop without any trace of their where about. Most of the available material resources have been damaged for so many years due to poor management by the teachers concerned. The inability of students to acquire relevant skills in woodwork subject before graduation paints the program as a failure. Some technical colleges in Nigeria have well – equipped laboratories but the teachers are not effectively utilizing and managing material resources in teaching.

Most of the material resources used in wood workshops are imported and very expensive,  which  informs  the need to be properly managed  as it may pose some difficulties to replace them immediately when they go bad. These practices make the achievement of objectives of technical education programme in woodwork impossible if it continues. Therefore the problem of the study is to determine material resources management  responsibilities  of  woodwork  teachers  in  technical  colleges  in  Kogi State.

Purpose of the Study

The major purpose of this study is to investigate the material resource management responsibilities of woodwork teachers in technical colleges in Kogi State. Specifically, the study will determine:

1.  The  planning  responsibilities  of  woodwork  teachers  for  material  resource management in technical colleges

2.  The organizing  responsibilities  of woodwork  teachers  for material  resource management in technical colleges

3.  The coordinating responsibilities of woodwork teachers for material resource management in technical colleges

4.  The controlling  responsibilities  of woodwork  teachers  for material resource management in technical colleges

5.  The monitoring responsibilities  of woodwork  teachers  for material resource management in technical colleges

6.  The  evaluating  responsibilities  of  woodwork  teachers  for material  resource management in technical colleges

Significance of the Study

The findings of the study will be of great benefit to the teachers of woodwork, students, curriculum planners, teacher preparation institutions, students, parents, government and the society.

The findings of the study will benefit the teachers of woodwork. The findings of the study could be used to retrain teachers of woodwork in form of seminars and

workshop. This will build their capacities on how to manage resource materials meant for teaching woodwork in technical colleges in the state. Teachers themselves can also use the findings of the study to improve  their management  responsibilities  in the woodwork laboratory to enhance teaching and learning.

Students of woodwork will benefit from the findings of the study if identified management responsibilities are used to retrain the teachers. The knowledge gained by these teachers will be used to manage all the material resources. This will then reduce the rate at which damages occur to the material resources. The students will now have enough materials for their practicals whenever situation demands. Students will gain the required skills and knowledge to establish their own woodwork businesses after graduation. Interaction of the students and material resources will then leads to proper skills acquisition.

The finding of the study will benefit the society. Well equipped graduates of woodwork will be turned out from Technical Colleges to solve societal problems. The society  will  be  filled  with  skilled  woodwork  graduates  who  can  make  modern furniture, or repair most of the damaged  furniture.  Woodwork industries will also benefit from the findings of this study as they would have enough well qualified and skilled  technicians,  who can maintain, manage and utilize hand tools, power tools woodwork materials and machines for the production of woodwork articles.

Parents of the students or graduates of woodwork will benefit from the study as their children will be equipped with knowledge and skills to secure employment in society. The children will earn money to take care of their parents and the whole family at large.

The  findings  of  the  study  will  also  benefit  the  government  through  its curriculum planners. The finding of this study could be  integrated in the curriculum of colleges of education and universities that produce teachers for technical colleges and conventional secondary schools in Nigeria. This will help in preparing teachers with management responsibilities of material resources while in schools.

Research Questions

The following research questions guided the study:

1.  What  are  the  planning  responsibilities  of  woodwork  teachers  for  material resource management in technical colleges?

2.  What are the organizing  responsibilities  of woodwork  teachers for material resource management in technical colleges?

3.  What are the coordinating responsibilities of woodwork teachers for material resource management in technical colleges?

4.  What are the controlling responsibilities  of woodwork teachers for material resource management in technical colleges?

5.  What are the monitoring responsibilities  of woodwork teachers for material resource management in technical colleges?

6.  What  are  the  evaluating  responsibilities  of woodwork  teachers  for material resource management in technical colleges?

Hypotheses

The following hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance:

H01:   There  is  no  significant  difference  in  the  mean  responses  of  woodwork teachers and supervisors in the industries on the planning responsibilities for material resource management in technical colleges

H02:   There  is  no  significant  difference  in  the  mean  responses  of  woodwork teachers and supervisors in the industries on the organizing responsibilities for material resource management in technical colleges

H03:   There  is  no  significant  difference  in  the  mean  responses  of  woodwork teachers and supervisors in the industries on the coordinating responsibilities for material resource management in technical colleges

H04:   There  is  no  significant  difference  in  the  mean  responses  of  woodwork teachers and supervisors in the industries on the controlling responsibilities for material resource management in technical colleges

H05:   There  is  no  significant  difference  in  the  mean  responses  of  woodwork teachers and supervisors in the industries on the monitoring responsibilities for material resource management in technical colleges

H06:   There  is  no  significant  difference  in  the  mean  responses  of  woodwork teachers and supervisors in the industries on the evaluating responsibilities for material resource management in technical colleges

Delimitation of the Study

The study was conducted in Kogi state and covered material resources management responsibilities of woodwork teachers in technical colleges. The study specifically covered planning, organizing, coordinating, controlling, monitoring, and evaluating responsibilities of woodwork teachers for material resource management in
technical  colleges  in Kogi State.  Other  management  responsibilities  of woodwork teachers in the types and quantity of materials needed, stocks and supplies, storage of materials, inventory control and automation were not determined by the study.

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