EFFECTS OF INADEQUATE EQUIPMENT IN TRAINING AND

PERFORMANCE OF OFFICE TECHNOLOGY AND

MANAGEMENT STUDENTS: (A STUDY OF

FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC OKO)

BY

JONAS CHINENYE ROSEMARY

FPOOTHA23046

DEPARTMENT OF OFFICE TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS STUDIES

FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC,

OKO, ANAMBRA STATE.

MARCH, 2025.

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 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Training equipment’s are tangible resources that can used in any institution or training
and performance center for skills acquisition. This equipment may not be the same in all
institutions. The equipment used in training and performance most often, is based on the
requirement or needs of the institution/organization or program. In the education system,
for instance, equipment used for training and performance of students are varies
depending on the program, Akpan (2019) expressed that effective education program
requires training and performance equipment to blend with theoretical learning to make
the recipients functional and useful to the economy. These equipment include:
classroom/lecture halls, library, laboratory, machines and so on, which directly or
indirectly contribute significantly to the achievement of goals. Adesua (2019) noted that
training and performance equipment are aids to effective teaching and learning, there are
school buildings, classrooms, library, laboratories, lavatory facilities, office tables and
chairs and other materials or equipment that would likely motivate teachers and students
to teach and learn effectively. Ndinechi and Nwogu (2018) presented that training and
performance equipment are core environmental factors that enhance acquisition of skills
and competences for effective performance in business offices.
For effective training and performance to take place in schools, training and performance
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equipment are considered important. It is generally accepted that students’ performance
is directly influenced by adequacy of training and performance equipment available in
the institution. This equipment makes training and performance more effective and real.
The equipment required for the training and performance of Office Technology and
Management students are spelt out clearly in the benchmark minimum academic standard
(BAMAS) document of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) guideline for
the accreditation and reaccreditation of program at each level. Nalado (2021) listed the
equipment required for effective training and performance of OTM students in-line with
NBTE guidelines to include: well ventilated and air conditioned OTM computer
laboratories, laptops, demonstration stand, electronic white board, manual typewriter
studio, keyboarding software instructional packages, scanners, shredding machines,
multimedia projectors, teleconferencing facilities, printers, UPS, generator set, solar
system, office stationeries, reprography machines, computer chairs and tables, dictating
machines, steel cabinet, access to e- book, laminating machines etc. Agbo (2019)
expressed that admission of students into OTM program is on ratio of each student to
equipment, meaning that, for instance, the guideline stipulated that at the Higher National
Diploma (HND) level 45 – 50 typewriters machines are adequate for the ratio of same
number of students, while at the National Diploma (ND) level 35 typewriters machines
are adequate in the ratio of one is to one as well. Equally computer laboratories should be
provided for the teaching of all ICT courses with carrying capacity of 45 – 50 and 30 –
35 for HND and ND respectfully, in other to acquire the desirable skills and competences
expected by employer of labour. Ekpo (2020) revealed that the low quality of learning
among OTM students is partly attributed to inadequacy of training and performance
equipment. Qualities diminish when the needed training and performance equipment are
inadequate or not available. Inadequate training and performance equipment negatively
affect OTM students’ performance below expectation in the examination or office

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routine task. In line with the above, Eke (2021) posited that OTM students upon
graduation are supposed to be job creators, but contrary to these expectations, most of
them roam the streets for years searching for very scarce white collar jobs. This is
because, they are inadequately equipped with relevant skills probably due to the fact that
the program is not up-to-date with the required training and performance equipment.
Inadequate equipment for training and performance OTM students has created a gap in
era of skills acquisition, which will invariable result to poor performance in the world of
work.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Equipping students with relevant skills is an important mandate of OTM program at

National Diploma ND and Higher National Diploma HND program in the Polytechnic
Education in Nigeria (FRN, 2014). The program is designed to produce skilled and
dynamic graduates for gainful employment or self-employment. The laudable goal is,
however, adversely affected by inadequacy of equipment needed for effective training
and performance of recipients of the program. In OTM Department of Federal
Polytechnic, Oko, for example, the required training and performance equipment is
grossly inadequate. This ugly scenario has challenged the training and performance of
students of the program. Students in the department are segmented into groups for
practical demonstration in computer and keyboarding laboratories, which most of the
time result to struggle amongst the students. Due to large population, time/hours allotted
for practical and theoretical training and performance is grossly inadequate therefore,
course contents may not be properly covered. The computer labs are congested, with
little or no ventilation, the environment is so harsh that lecturers and students are
uncomfortable. It therefore becomes imperative to ascertain the effect of inadequate
equipment in the training and performance of OTM students of Federal Polytechnic,

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Oko.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study was to ascertain the effect of inadequacy of equipment on
the training and performance and performance of OTM students in Federal Polytechnic,
Oko. Specifically the study sought to identify the:
i. Equipment needed for effective training and performance of OTM students in
relevant professional skills acquisition
ii. Required equipment available in OTM department Federal Polytechnic, Oko, for
effective training and performance of students.
iii. Effect of inadequate equipment in the training and performance of OTM students
of Federal Polytechnic, Oko.

1.4 Significance of the Study

This study is significant as it will help educational institutions and employers understand the
importance of providing adequate office technology tools for effective training and
performance and performance.
1.5 Scope of the Study
The study focuses on students in OTM programs and office professionals in selected
organizations.

1.6 Limitations of the study

Challenges such as limited access to data and financial constraint may affect the research.

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 CHAPTER TWO

2.1 Needs for Training OTM Students

The mandates of OTM department is to train its recipients so that upon graduation, they
must have acquired the right employability skills to be able to gain employment in the
world of work or become self-employed. However, Obinna (2019) expressed that
employers of labor have kept complaining that OTM graduates are not performing as
expected without further training. This assertion was supported by Ugwangi (2020) who
observed that, most organizations have expressed their disappointment over the quality of
OTM graduates in terms of employability skills possessed to meet up with the
global/trends in the work place. In other to bridge the gap, many business organizations
has compelled her human resources units to redesign on-the-job training for all
employees to undergo necessary refresher training to acquire the lost skills while in
school. This is not without extra cost to the organization. Office Technology and
Management Students need adequate employability skills to be effective in the
contemporary work environment. Suleman (2020) defined employability skills as the
convertible skills desirable by an individual to make him/her employable and functional
in the work place. Employability skills cannot be achievable without adequate equipment

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for training. Effective training is subject to discipline in specific knowledge and skills as
well as attitudes exhibited by the students. Undoubtly, the emerging technologies and
globalization brought about a change in the employers’ job skills requirements, thereby
making the labour market more competitive. Thus, there is need for training the students
with marketable skills needed for global competitiveness.
Training equipment are education facilities that enhance effective training during
classroom interaction. They are imperative for training and retraining of its’ users for
effective performance in the process of their program or in the work place. Training
equipment used in today’s business offices and schools or training centers according to
Babalola (2021) includes: air conditioner (AC), computer systems, internet facilities,
Personal Computers (PCs), e-library, demonstration stand, electronic board, keyboarding
software, voice recording machines, electronic typewriters, shredding machines,
teleconferencing facilities, computer chairs and tables, steel cabinets, uninterrupted
power supply (UPS), standby power generating plant, multimedia projectors, scanners,
printers, reprographic machines etc. Omeje (2019) listed the facilities to include:
computers, IBM machines, typewriters, calculators, closed circuit TV, word processors,
audio-video retrieval system, and video tape recorder.
Ibekwe (2021) expressed that OTM program required well equipped laboratories and
studios with state of the art facilities for effective training of students either at the HND
or ND levels. As a matter of fact, there is no way effective training can be carried out
without standard computer laboratories, studios and other equipment. OTM courses are
practical oriented therefore, require adequate and functional equipment to achieve its
goals. The mandate of OTM can only be achieved when human and materials resources
are adequately provided for training. This is in agreement with Oyibo (2020) expressed
that manpower is one of the critical tools and cannot be undervalued in the training of
students in OTM department. Office Technology and Management program is the

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“blood” of business organization, it required qualified and competent human resources as
well as putting the available equipment unto use for training students for gainful
employment or self-employment.

2.2 Required Equipment Available in Office Technology and Management

Federal Polytechnic, Oko for Effective Training of the Students

Department of OTM, Federal Polytechnic, Oko is a work oriented educational

program which aims at skills acquisition for paid employment, self- reliance or
employer of labour. Training in OTM involves the acquisition and development
of skills, compete-ncies, attitudes, and attribute to be able to function
effectively in the office environment. OTM Department Federal Polytechnic, Oko
cannot perfectly achieve its target or vision statement due to inadequate equipment
required for training its students. A survey of the laboratories and studios at HND and
ND level made the researchers observed with dismay that there are grossly inadequate
equipment for training students as specified by NBTE for effective teaching and
learning that produce well-equipped graduates that meet the demand of employers of
labour. In the process of the assessment of available equipment in OTM Department
Federal Polytechnic, Oko, the researchers found two computer laboratories housing only
15 functional computers system each for HND and ND, which are grossly inadequate,
two manual typewriter (keyboarding) studios housing only 48 functional typewriters for
ND which is not sufficient, one scanner machine (not enough), one shredding machine in
HOD’s office, students rarely see or have access to it for practical demonstration, two
multi-media projectors, two printing machines, one steel cabinet, no functional shorthand

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laboratory, one demonstration stand, no public address system, non-functional air-
conditioner in the laboratories gross shortage of office accommodation for academic
staff, no departmental library, two portable generator sets that hardly power the few
available computers, at various time students contributes money to fuel the generator
before conducting practical’s. The researchers equally observed that the department is
grossly under staffed, the few lecturers in the department are over stressed, one lecturer
to up to 5 courses which render them ineffective.Toda1y, the students enrollment
continues to grow geometrically against NBTE requirements for admission into the
department. As the enrollment increases, members of equipment remain the same or is
diminishing. Data available to the researchers show that the poor state of laboratories and
studios negativity affected the department in the recent reaccreditation carried out by
NBTE.

2.3 Effect of Inadequate Equipment on the Training of Office Technology

Management Student
There is a proper saying that “one cannot give what he/she doesn’t have” in line with
the above assertion Okolocha (2019) revealed that the decline in students achievement in
learning skills courses is to a large extent connected to inadequacy of equipment needed
for effective training of students. Poor quality teaching is attributed to absence or
inadequacy of equipment. Lecturers and students are handicapped where there are no
equipment for training the students to acquire the right skills and competencies for
gainful employment. Non availability or inadequacy of training equipment affects OTM
students’ performance below expectation in the class exams and during practical
exercises. The result is that OTM students, upon graduation are supposed to be job
creators but contrary to these expectations most of them roam the streets searching for
non-exiting jobs. Business organizations today are in dilemma because tertiary
institutions cannot produce efficient and effective manpower that can perform with less
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or no supervision. However, Ogbonna (2021) expressed that employers of labour have
kept complaining that OTM graduates cannot perform their office routine effectively and
efficiently without further training. In the same direction, Omeji (2019) noted that
Polytechnic education in Nigeria has failed to meet its mandates of producing middle and
high level manpower for business offices. He noted that the failure is as a result of poor
training occasioned by lack of or inadequate facilities for effect training of the students.

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 CHAPTER THREE

Recommendations
Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations were made:
1. Federal, State and proprietors of private Polytechnics should ensure that
there are available and adequate equipment as specified in the NBTE
guideline before admitting students in to any program or department.
2. Federal Government and management of Federal Polytechnic, Oko should as
a matter of urgency seek for assistance through TETFund or NGO’s to
provide required equipment for effective training of the student Management
of Federal Polytechnic, Oko should regularly appraise and review the statues
of her manpower and required equipment to be in line with the minimum
standard stipulated by the supervising bodies to prevent the dearth of the
educational resources.
Conclusion
Production of skilled and competent manpower is imperative for the attainment of
the objectives of OTM program in the polytechnic. The objectives of the program
today is rarely achieved due to inadequate and functional equipment for effective
training of recipients of the program. Based on the findings of the study, it was
concluded that students of OTM, Federal Polytechnic, Oko are not being
adequately taught with required equipment and this may affect their acquisition of
skills for job creation upon graduation. The researchers also conclude that there is

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still a lot to be done by government and management of the institution in the area
of providing adequate equipment needed for training of students to meet with the
demand of employers of labour.

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