Enhancing Electrical Machine Maintenance Competence: The Effects of Nigeria’s Local Content Programme on Technical College Teachers in Delta State

Abstract

This study examined the perceived influence of Nigeria’s Local Content Programme on the development of electrical machine maintenance competence among technical college teachers in Delta State. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. Three research questions guided the study, while two null hypotheses were tested at the 0.05 level of significance. The population comprised 36 respondents, including 24 electrical technology teachers and 12 technicians from six selected technical colleges in Delta State. Data were collected using a 40-item structured questionnaire designed to assess competence development, teachers’ maintenance ability, and technical skills in electrical machine maintenance. The instrument was face-validated by three experts, and its internal consistency was established using the Cronbach alpha method, yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.80. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while z-test statistics were used to test the null hypotheses. Findings showed that respondents agreed that the programme contributed to competence development in electrical machine maintenance, with grand mean scores of 3.06 and 3.14 for technicians and teachers, respectively. Respondents also perceived improvement in teachers’ ability to maintain electrical machines and equipment, with grand mean scores of 3.05 and 3.12 for technicians and teachers, respectively. In addition, the programme was perceived to have enhanced teachers’ technical skills, with grand mean scores of 3.03 and 3.15 for technicians and teachers, respectively. The hypotheses showed no significant difference between teachers’ and technicians’ mean responses. The study recommends sustaining and strengthening the programme to support competence development in technical colleges.