ASSESSMENT OF BUSINESS EDUCATION CURRICULUM CONTENTS FOR STUDENTS’ REQUISITE JOB SKILLS ACQUISITION IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN NORTH CENTRAL, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed business education curriculum contents for students’ requisite job skills acquisition in North-Central, Nigeria (BECCSRJSAQ) colleges. Two research questions were used to guide the study, while two null hypotheses were formulated and tested at a 0.05 level of significance. The population for this study was made up of 89 Lecturers 823 male students 967 Female students the Total is 1879 which comprises final year students and lecturers from six institutions offering business education as of the 2017/2018 academic session formed the population of the study. Mean and standard deviations were used to answer the stated research questions, using a benchmark of 2.5 as a criterion for agreement. Meanwhile, a t-test was used to test the null hypotheses of the study. The findings of the study revealed, among others that business education curriculum contents in colleges of education in North Central, Nigeria do not provide students with essential skills required for their employability after graduation. Given the findings, one of the recommendations made among others was that the business education curriculum needs an in-depth review that would enable the graduates to respond to challenges in the labour market and field of work. This should be done by selecting content consistent with emergent and anticipated needs, namely ICT competency, conflict resolution, economic survival, and entrepreneurship. Etc. Based on the findings and conclusion of the study, it was recommended among others that the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and other agencies of education should develop a benchmark for the curriculum of business education that will emphasize relevant skills and competencies. This will help colleges of education take vital initiatives to review the attributes needed by business education graduates as well as to support generic skills development.

Keywords: Business Education, Curriculum and Requisite Job Skills