DETERMINATION OF COMPETENCIES REQUIRED BY TRADE ARTISANS FOR DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS IN ENUGU STATE

Background to the Study

The state of the economy and socio-economic well-being of any society is linked to the effectiveness of its education and the competencies of the work force. The effectiveness of any nation's labour force and skill development programme can be achieved when it is geared towards functional system of education such as technical, vocational education and training (TVET). This is because according to Samuel (2011), technical, vocational education and training as an academic programme has acknowledged accepted as an investment in human resource development and as a critical factor in any socio-economic development.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria FRN (2013) expressed special concern for functional education; that is education that is practically oriented and relevant to the needs of the society as well as for self reliance. This informs us that for education to be relevant to the people it must be designed for development of skills which are responsive and relevant to the country's human resources required for production and desired to eradicate poverty (Samuel, 2011). This is in line with what Hunsaker (2001) stated that employees must have been equipped adequately with the relevant technical and other complementary (generic) skills and competencies needed in their vocation. This implies that high level of competency is imperative in the success or practice of any trade or vocation.

Competency, according to Alio and Uzor (2010), is a combination of knowledge, skills, attitude and values displayed in the context of task performance. Alio and Uzor stated that competency is a combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes that

can be developed through training which are adequate for accomplishing some specific tasks. Therefore, the competencies of electrical trade artisans in the context of this study is the ability of this set of workers to possess required theoretical knowledge, practical skills, entrepreneurship skills, managerial skills and work attitude, skills, available in Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

In another perspective, competency is the ability to do something well, in relation to some standard. It is the specific ability one has to perform or carry out tasks with efficiency and effectiveness. Specific abilities are acquired through experience and training. Competency can equally be defined as the ability or capacity to carry out any action and skills characterized with complexities and difficulties (Ogbuanya, Abdullahi & Ado, 2013). Also, Olaitan (2003) stated that competency implies that the said individual has the required knowledge, skills and attitudes in order to perform successfully at work. Grove (2003) opined that competency is a quality or state of being functionally adequate or having knowledge, skills or strength to carry out a particular duty or task.

Therefore competency is a set of defined behaviours that provide a structured guide enabling the identification, evaluation and development of the behaviours in an individual employee. It is a combination of knowledge, skills and behaviour used to improve performance, or the state or quality of being adequate or well qualified, having the ability to perform a specific task. In line with these assertions, Samuel (2011), stated that artisans (electrical trade artisans inclusive) will be effective only if they possess skills and competencies to achieve some of the TVET objectives of wealth creation. This requires adequate training, using the right materials and appropriate method by the

artisans.

Effective performance in any given vocation, trade or occupation requires acquisition or possession of required competencies, knowledge and attitude. Therefore, individuals seeking to enter into an occupation, like electrical trade, should possess the necessary and needed competencies, knowledge and attitude to be able to achieve maximally in production of goods and services available in such occupation such as electrical installation.

Electrical installations (domestic and industrial installations) is one of the specialized areas in electrical trade. This trade is one of the trade areas offered in technical colleges in Nigeria. Electrical installation comprises basic electricity, battery charging, domestic installation, industrial installation, cable jointing and winding of electrical machines (Ogbuanya, Abdullahi & Ado, 2013). Domestic installation is concerned with installation of electrical components or equipment in a building and such other equipment or components which include home appliances fixed in positions for use. On the other hand, industrial installation is according to National Board for Technical Education (NBTE, 2008) one that provide the trainees with the knowledge and skills which will enable them carry out all types of industrial/factory installations.

Electrical trade artisans acquire skills in domestic and industrial electrical installations through apprenticeship training. Report by Osuala (2001) showed that products of technical colleges are incompetent and cannot be self-reliant on graduation. Osuala further, stated that the unskilled Nigerians are jobless not because of the absence of job opportunities in the industries and electrical firms but because they lack adequate electrical installation competencies to take up the available skilled jobs. This points to

the need to determine the competencies required by the electrical trade artisans. The electrical trade artisans work under supervisors who oversees their activities by making sure that their works are done correctly and safely. The supervisors serve as trade foremen who are in the position to determine the competencies required by the electrical trade artisans under their supervision (Okozor, 2006). It is necessary to determine the competencies required by the electrical trade artisans in order for them to be competent and also to attain high economic status in the society.

Attaining a level of competency in a trade is very imperative and can be achieved through appropriate training if one has to remain relevant in the vocation and also to progress in it. Obayi, Obi and Okafor (2012) observed that workers are not born with capabilities but their potentials can be developed/stimulated by appropriate training methods, and competency achieved through long years of experience in the vocation. Obayi, et al further stated that such training is meant to help workers/employees acquire and apply knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes needed by an organization in order to achieve its goals and objectives. The need for training and retraining of workers, electrical trade artisans inclusive, is to enable them acquire relevant skills and knowledge which will enhance their performance on the job.

Obayi, Obi and Okafor (2012) were of the opinion that development training enhances and upgrades the management know-how, skills and techniques of existing entrepreneurs. The much emphasis placed on retraining artisans points to the need to determine the competencies they require through apprenticeship training. Retraining of workers was necessitated as a result of shortfalls in employees performance which could be solved by appropriate training (Obayi, 2009). It was in recognition of this fact that

the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1987 instituted the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to address the issue of skill acquisition among youths and graduates of tertiary institutions. NDE programme which is a formal apprenticeship scheme, was established to avert and correct the shortcomings of traditional apprenticeship. Doko and Uthman in Okozor (2006), commenting on the features of traditional apprenticeship system, stated that the training given to apprentice is often narrow and mainly focused on practicals and lacked theoretical contents. Consequently, their creativity and ability to innovate are not developed and therefore the recipients are unable to deal with situations which may not be exactly like the ones they had experienced before. Elobuike (2006) asserted that apprenticeship system vis-a-vis artisan training should incorporate theoretical knowledge, practical skills and work attitudes in a quantitative and qualitative manner in chosen occupations to enable the artisans perform effectively in worthy socio-economic life and in different work conditions.

Artisans in this context are skilled manual workers who produce items and render services that may be functional in a limited quantity. Webster (2013) stated that an artisan is a worker who practices a trade or handicraft, or one that is producing something in limited quantities often using traditional method. Electrical trade artisans constitute of good number of workers in the informal sector of the economy and are found in strategic locations in urban and semi urban centres in Enugu State, where there are availability of amenities, such as electricity supply.

Electrical trade artisans also are tradesmen whose specialized areas include Electrical installations (domestic and industrial installations), house wiring, maintenance of electrical appliances and so on. These group of tradesmen also may be employed for

the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure.

There are indications that many shortfalls are experienced by customers in the products and services of these artisans. The tradesmen also cannot initiate new ideas or create innovations in their field of occupation because of the limitations in their initial training which was based on traditional apprenticeship system. Ezeji further asserted that they (artisans) also have poor customer relationship due to the narrowness of their training.

The deduction one makes is that unskilled or semi skilled employees, constitute a cog in the wheel of progress in technical education and their output is generally low while the rate of wastage of time and materials may be high. They lack interest in their jobs and their poor attitude to work might be consequent upon their poor competency acquisition. In order to avert these shortcomings, the electrical trade artisans need to possess modern practical skills and scientific knowledge, right attitude to work and entrepreneurial competencies through in-service training. This will make them function effectively in this present age of high technological growth and development.

Therefore, the ability of the artisans to perform depends on skills and competencies acquired through appropriate training and years of experience in the vocation. In the context of this work, experienced artisans are those who have been in the vocation for five years and above while inexperienced artisans are those who have worked in the vocation below five years. Even with experience and some level of competence, it appears that the majority of the electrical trade artisans in the state lack some relevant skills and knowledge to render effective services to the society. Their

ineffectiveness could be linked to their poor communication skills, practical/technical skills and theoretical knowledge. Artisans need competence in theoretical and scientific knowledge to be able to read and interpret complex circuits and drawings that usually accompany the current technological equipment.

Acquisition of practical skills which have to do with working on machines, applying safety precautions and providing maintenance services of equipment in the workshops are inevitable requirements of any artisan for successful development in the vocation. Artisans also need to have good work attitude to enable them have positive relationship with their customers and co-workers, manage well with some level of entrepreneurial competencies that may be acquired through in-service training. These aforementioned competencies could be acquired through appropriate training and re- training programmes provided in NDE formal apprenticeship scheme available in all the states of the federation. The need for continued training of electrical trade artisans cannot be over emphasized, because of the increasing complexity of their jobs as a result of current high technological development.

On the other hand, Olaitan (2006) stated that most of the artisans are from low income group and therefore are unable to go for in-service training. As a result, many of them seem to have lost interest in their jobs while others were frustrated out of the occupation. Most of them have left their jobs to easier means of earning a living by becoming Motorcycle (Okada) riders and Tricyclist (Keke Napep) operators thereby exposing themselves to danger of road accidents. The sudden change to apparently easier means of livelihood by most of the artisan workers is a pointer to the need for determining the competencies required by the artisan workers for domestic and

industrial electrical installations to help retain them in their vocation and for effective performance in the formal sector of Enugu State.