POND FISH FARMING TECHNOLOGY AND EFFECTIVE SKILL ACQUISITION AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOLS STUDENTS IN IKOT EKPENE L.G.A.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- BACKGROUNG OF THE STUDY
The level of unemployment in Nigeria has become like air borne where extent of disaster can no longer be measured. The number of work force is consciously growing in geometric progression. In addition to this, Nigerian universities and other higher institutions are chiming out thousands of graduates interest the rate of employment generation is less than arithmetic progression. The reality staring us today reveals that there is no solution to the problem except the government and individual engage youth in skill acquisition.
In recent times, effective skill acquisition has been the basis for self-development, self-employment and job creation this effective skill acquisition is the process of learning to perform a task or set of tasks with increasing facilities (ogunbote et al, 2006). In other word, skill acquisition is ability and capacity acquired through deliberate, systematic and sustained effort to smoothly and adaptively carryout complex activities or job functions involving ideas (cognitive skills), things (medical skills , and for people (interpersonal skills) (National Directorate of Employment, 2011).
The importance of skill acquisition and development in our society today cannot be overemphasized. It contributes to the development of the nation’s human capacity and is seen as essential for preparing one for employment. Harry and Bowers-Brown (2002) areas that skill acquisition prepares individual to fit in readily to employment in all sectors of the economy and help in the formulation of ideas their integration for national development and the interaction of persons and ideas.
Essentially, various skill acquisitions exist but are of the prominent is pond fish farming. In Nigeria, fish farming occupy an important position in the agricultural sector of the Nigerian economy. The contribution of the fishers subsector to GDP rose from N76.76 billion in 2001 to N162.61 billion in 2005 (CBN, 2005). It is the principal source high quality protein, iron Zinc, magnesium phosphorus, calcium, vitamin A and C and iodine (Asugwa, 2012) which are essentials for well-being of Nigerians.
Pond fish farming is the principal form of aquaculture that involves raising fishes commercially in tanks or enclosures. various pond fish farming technology have emerged to smoothen the activities involve in the farming processes. Such technologies include: improved pond construction and management, breed selection, stocking, feeding, water management, breed selection, stocking, feeding water management spawning, sorting, harvesting, processing, storage, marketing and record keeping  (Ofuoku et al, 2008). The acquisition of these technologies to a greater extent can impact positively on youth development and rapid employment creation especially if imparting from the basic level of secondary schools. Hence the essence of this study:
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 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The high capacity and functionality of pond fish farming in employment creation, self-development, nation’s economic growth as well as prominent source of nutrient can only be achieved through recently introduced technologies. To sustained this temp, the agricultural science curriculum reform by NERDC (2009) more fish production a single subject for student in senior secondary schools 1 to 3 as against its initial position in the entire curriculum of agricultural science. This among other was to bridge the gap between the previous and the present teaching methods and to effectively impact the pond fish farming technology skills on students. But from the available fact and mere observations, secondary schools learners tend to have little and no knowledge of pond fish farming. This become a concern to the researcher to examine the extent of skill acquisition in the area of pond fish farming technology among students in secondary schools (in Ikot Ekpene L.G.A.)
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The objectives of this study are as follows:
- To examine the effectiveness of teaching of pond fish farming technology in secondary school in Ikot Ekpene L.G.A.
- Examine the extent to which skills in pond fish farming technology are acquired among secondary school in Ikot Ekpene L.G. Area.
- To determine the availability of instructional materials for effective skill acquisition of pond fish farming technology among secondary schools in Ikot Ekpene L.G. Area.
- To examines the perception on the skill acquisition of pond fish farming trchnology among secondary schools in Ikot Ekpene L.G.A.
- To determine the challenges faced in obtaining effective skill acquisition on pond fish farming technology among secondary schools in Ikot Ekpene L.G. Area.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
To effectively tackle the research objectives the following study question would be answered.
- What is the effectiveness is teaching of pond fish farming technology in secondary schools in Ikot Ekpene L.G.A?
- To what extent is to skill in pond fish farming technology acquired among secondary schools in Ikot Ekpene L.G.A?
- To what extent do instructional materials available for an effective skill acquisition in pond fish farming technology among secondary schools in Ikot Ekpene L.G.A?
- What is the perception among secondary schools in Ikot Ekpene L.G.A on the skill acquisition of pond fish farming technology?
- What are the challenges faced among secondary schools in obtaining effective skill acquisition on pond fish farming technologies in Ikot Ekpene L.G.A?
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SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study would enlighten education management on the level of PFFT skill acquisition and this would encourage maintenance/sustenance or improvement of it (fish production) curriculum.
Secondly the study would impact on students thread to acquire this all important skill-pond fish farming technology skill for their self-employment, self-reliance and self-development.
More so, it would highlight government on the possible challenges faced in the implementation of curriculum and impartation of pond fish farming technology skills on students.
Finally, the findings of the study would serve an additional literature is the field of fish farming and production in particular and agricultural science as a whole.
DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
         The study would be mainly concern with pond fish farming technology, effective skill acquisition and the secondary schools within Ikot Ekpene local government area. The point of emphasis for the study are the senior secondary 1 and 2 because of their availability for the study and not senior secondary 3 because they are on their external examinations and will lack attention and time to attend to the interview.   Â
REFERENCES
Asogwu, V. C. (2012). Introduction to wildlife and fisheries. Â Lecture note, Department of Agricultural Education, Â University of Agricultural, Makurdi
Central Bank of Nigeria (2005). Annual Report and Statement of Account. CBN, Abuja.
Haney, L. and Bowers-Brown, T. (2002). The Employability of Graduates.
Cross Comparison: Paper Presented at DFES Research Conference, London.
National Directorate of Employment (2011). Skill Acquisition and Youth Contribution to National Development. Paper Presented at national youth Empowerment summit NDE Headquarter, Abuja.
Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) (2009).
Senior secondary school curriculum: Fishery for SSS 1-3. Sheda, Abuja: University Press Plc.
Ofuoku, A. N; Emah, G. N, Hedjere, B. E. (2008). Information Utilization among rural fish farmers in central agricultural zone of Delta State, Nigeria. World Journal of Agricultural Science 4(5): 558-564.
Ogunbote, S. Zobu, S. J. and Ajibare, T. O (2006) the impact of Technology Education for nation Building.
Nigerian Association of Teachers of Technology
Journal, Vol.8 Pp. 108.
