This research work was carried out to investigate into the effect of industrial training scheme on the training of Office Managers. It was discussed under the following sub headings according to the purpose of the study: Objectives of Industrial Training, benefits derived from Industrial Training, causes and remedies to the poor implementation of Industrial Training programme. It was observed that the management problem of industrial training on the training of Office Managers was on how to achieve the organizational goal, poor visitation of students by supervision staff during training and non payment to students on attachment. This study helps students to achieve the practical aspect of learning, which enable them to perfect on the theoretical training. The population of the study was made up of 253 managerial students both Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Federal Polytechnic Oko and Abia State Polytechnic Aba. Four (4) research questions were formulated which guided the study. Thirty (30) structured questionnaires were used for data collection which was distributed to 165 managerial students from HNDI and HNDII in the selected tertiary institutions. Also, tables, percentile method were used in analysis of data collected and the statistical tool employed in testing the hypothesis was Chi Square. The findings reveals that the programme organized by the industrial training fund is relevant to students involved in skilled courses. It was recommended that the activities of the establishment in which they had their IT exposure are related to their course of study. There should be a line between the industries and schools so that the performance reports of the students would be sent to Industrial Training Fund (ITF) office after each industrial training experience for further assessment.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Industrial Training is the training given to the students in tertiary institution in order to know the responsibilities of human resources development and how they will tackle their work/job after their school career.

The Industrial Training Funds was set up by (SIWES) Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme programme to help students in tertiary institutions especially those offering practical courses such as Office Technology and Management students, Art and Applied Sciences, Engineering students etc. to achieve their required training skills for their professions.

This programme has brought about many positive effects on the students. As the manager’s job is to provide service to the general public, industrial training helps to expose managers to industrial behaviour in order to improve on practical aspect of their course. According to Okafor (1993), this type of experience would expose students to the world of work and help them remedy the deficiencies of the classroom in terms of its practical components.

Thus, the Industrial Training Fund programs help Office Managers to perfect in their profession. For instance, some courses in Office Technology and Management line is Office Management System, Office Practice, Principle of Law, Advance Transcription, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Human Capital Management etc. are being taught theoretical in school.

In Polytechnics, Office Managers due go to four months Industrial Training (IT), in their first year, in second year another one year Industrial Training making them acquire the necessary skills to perfect in their course of study.

Students experience during the course of their training will definitely help them to carry out their managerial work effectively provided that the programme of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) is a continuous process. The experiences gotten by students is a good tool that responds to a certain basic aspect of the students fullest development in the Office Management and Technology course making them acquire the necessary skills.

The most serious problem facing the students before the introduction of the Industrial Training (IT) is unemployment. Many of them do not possess the relevant and employable skills needed by employers, students are being faced with the problem of acquiring the needed practical knowledge. Thereby, making the students to imagine everything that are being taught. But the introduction of this IT programme has helped Office Managers to perform well, especially in getting direct contact with some of the new office gazettes that have been taught theoretically in school.

The SIWES objectives is to help students to find solution to the problem of unemployment, to take their steps in the journey through their life career with pleasure, confidence, and to prepare students for the world.

Taylor (1983) had concluded that students who have benefited from SIWES opportunities pass on to the next level and are ready to accept any challenges of learning skills in their career. For this reasons the potential managers that went through the industrial training fund programme benefited from many effects needed for their experiences and exposure.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The management problem of the industrial training is on how to achieve the organization goal. And the effort of well trained managers as Folayan (1998) stated is a sine quo non for the achievement of the organizational corporate goal.

Before the introduction of Industrial Training Scheme, the Office Manager’s attitude and performance in school and outside school was very discouraging.

The Federal Military Government introduced this programme (IT) to guide and direct the Office Manager’s learning so that they will carry out their work/job effectively and accurately.

Atuenyi (1995), pointed out that “Office Managers need urgent training right from their year one in higher institution in order to meet up with the information technology demand in any organization”.

Another problem bordering on this is the problem of how often the supervision staff in Industrial Training Fund (ITF) visits the students on attachment and allowance paid to students on attachment.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The objective of the study is to find out the effect of Industrial Training Scheme on the training of Office Managers.

Specifically, the study sought to:

1. Identify the aims and objectives of the Industrial Training.

2. Find out the benefits that the entire students derive from Industrial Training (IT) Scheme.

3. Examine the causes of the poor implementation of the programme.

4. Examine the remedies to the poor implementation of the programme.

1.4 Research Questions

This study sought answers to the following research questions.

1. What are the aims and objectives of the Industrial Training?

2. What are the benefits derivable by students from the Industrial Training Scheme?

3. What are the causes of poor implementation of the programme?