EGBUKICHI VICTOR.C

The attainment of clinical competence is a pivotal requirement in radiography education, fundamentally relying on intensive supervision and tailored practical instruction. This investigation systematically assesses the detrimental influence exerted by elevated student-to-instructor ratios on the clinical proficiency developed by radiography students within the Nigerian context. Due to burgeoning institutional enrolments, juxtaposed with a scarcity of qualified clinical instructors, many students experience a demonstrable restriction in opportunities for essential hands-on training and individualized evaluative feedback. Employing a rigorous mixed-methods research design, which integrates quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with both students and faculty members across accredited radiography institutions, the study delineates critical operational challenges. The principal findings confirm major obstacles, including insufficient direct clinical supervision, curtailed practical exposure, and a resultant compromise in the acquisition of specialized skills. Consequently, the study advocates for strategic reforms encompassing the augmentation of instructor staffing, the implementation of highly structured clinical rotation protocols, and necessary policy adjustments. These measures are crucial for the amelioration of radiographic training standards and for guaranteeing the production of competent and workforce-ready practitioners in the future.