CONSTRAINTS TO REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS IN TECHNICAL COLLEGES’ WORKSHOPS IN RIVERS STATE OF NIGERIA

The study investigated constraints to repairs and maintenances of electronic systems in technical colleges' workshops in Rivers State. The study adopted the survey research design. The population of the study was 342 persons comprised of 309 students and 33 teachers from the five technical colleges in Rivers State. A simple random sampling technique was used to obtain a sample size of 188 which comprises of 33 teachers and 155 students. A 10-item questionnaire was used to collect data. The questionnaire item was followed by a single response category based on a 5-point rating scale format of Very High Extent (VHE), High Extent (HE), Moderate Extent (ME), Low Extent (LE) and Very Low Extent (VLE). A test retest method was adapted to test the reliability of the instrument to obtain a coefficient of 0.65. The data gathered was analyzed using mean and z-test analysis to answer the research questions and hypothesis respectively. The study revealed that absence of technical skills of workshop attendants and motivation of technical instructors are constraints to repairs and maintenances of electronic systems in technical colleges' workshops in Rivers State. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that an electronic repairs and maintenance company should be established by government which will enable electronic students to enroll for practical internship quarterly.