THE IMPACT OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT ON VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN BAYELSA STATE

Ebitimi Timibitei Ede-Alakere & Arc O. L. Frank

Department of Architecture, Rivers State University of science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Rivers State,

Email: ebaitimi@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This research investigated the effects of the built environment on vocational education in Bayelsa state. The study utilized qualitative and quantitative interviews with critical stakeholders such as Trainees, Instructors, School Administrators and Youths in the host communities where the case studies were carried out; constituting a sample size of 270. The stratified sampling technique was used. Questionnaires were developed to obtain data and a null hypothesis was formulated to guide the study. Tables, percentages and bar chart were used to analyze the data and Chi-square was also used to test the level of significance of the impact of the variables on vocational education. Findings from the study revealed that the built environment has direct impact on the perception/psychology, learning, performance, enrollment and health of the trainees learning traits in vocational training centers.  One of the major findings was the great level of significance of the impact of the built environment on vocational education as regards perception, learning, performance, enrollment and health of the trainees and trainers. And based on the findings, the author recommends that government and school proprietors should consider the built environment of their training centers as paramount as the establishment of same in the areas of design, availability and maintenance (sustainability).

Keywords: Built environment, vocational training and education.