FACULTY OF VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION,

This study investigated senior secondary school students’ awareness of the place of practical Agricultural Science in subject matter mastery of Agricultural Science in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, Edo State. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and involved a population of 14,264 students from 24 public secondary schools, from which a sample of 390 students was selected using the Taro Yamane formula and simple random sampling
technique. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire titled Students’ Awareness of the Place of Practical Agricultural Science in Mastering Agricultural Science (SAPPASMASQ), validated by experts and tested for reliability, yielding a Cronbach Alpha
coefficient of 0.88. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. Findings revealed that students possess a high level of knowledge regarding the importance of Agricultural Science and demonstrate a high level of awareness of the role of practical activities in enhancing their mastery of the subject. The results further showed that exposure to practical Agricultural Science significantly influences students’ interest and motivation towards the subject. However, the study also identified that several challenges, including inadequate functional school farms, insufficient farm tools and equipment, limited time allocation for practicals, poor maintenance of facilities, and shortage of qualified teachers, significantly hinder the effective implementation of practical Agricultural Science. The study concluded that although students’ awareness of the importance of practical Agricultural Science is significantly high, the full benefits of practical-based learning are constrained by infrastructural and systemic challenges. It therefore recommends increased investment in agricultural facilities, provision of adequate tools and qualified personnel, and the strengthening of practical-oriented teaching approaches to enhance effective mastery of Agricultural Science among senior secondary school students.

This study investigates the influence of vocational skill acquisition programmes on the socioeconomic development of youths in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. Anchored on the Human Capital Theory, the research examines the availability of vocational programmes, their impact on unemployment, crime involvement, living standards, and the challenges hindering youth participation. A descriptive survey design was employed, targeting a population of 57,659 youths, with a sample size of 100 respondents selected via simple random sampling using Yamane’s formula. Data were collected through a validated 20-item questionnaire (IVSAPSDYSQ) on a 4-point Likert scale and analyzed using mean scores and standard deviations. Findings reveal that programmes like tailoring, welding, ICT, and agriculture are widely available (Mean = 3.16, SD = 0.84) and significantly reduce unemployment (Mean = 2.84, SD = 0.96) and crime involvement (Mean = 2.76, SD = 0.93) while improving living standards (Mean = 3.05, SD = 0.88). However, challenges such as lack of awareness, inadequate facilities, financial constraints, and societal stigma (Mean = 3.16, SD = 0.89) impede participation. The study recommends enhanced programme accessibility, awareness campaigns, financial subsidies, and attitudinal change initiatives to maximize the socioeconomic benefits of vocational training for youths