Improving the use of Competence-Based Training (CBT) in polytechnic education in Ghana: an evaluation of the civil engineering department of Takoradi Polytechnic

Abstract

Quality Polytechnic education and training is expected to equip students with consistent, high quality Training and education that can be delivered and recognized across territorial boundaries. Currently, the ongoing restructuring of the labour markets and significant changes in occupational structures and skill requirements have strongly challenged the quality and performance of vocational education in Chana. Further, substantial concern is being raised about how polytechnic education can influence employment and the school to work transition. This research explores these new changes and demands. A major objective of the study was to investigate how the department could improve the effectiveness of the already existing mechanisms for CBT at Takoradi Polytechnic and maximize the effectiveness of Polytechnic-industry collaborations. There were in total 181 respondents; from the industries and Takoradi Polytechnic. Three different sets of questionnaires and an interview guide were used to collect data the respondents. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data after which evaluation criteria were used to make value judgment about the quality of the polytechnic education. The study showed that the level of practiced Training is not satisfactory, and there is a limited relationship between the polytechnic and the industry. Hence there is the need to: redesign the curriculum giving more attention to practical training; improve the practical knowledge of the staff; make real life research a core activity of the department; and develop other better ways of connecting the polytechnic with the industries other than students' attachment using the CBT approach.