Enhancing the Practical Skills of TVET Students Using Mathematics as a Tool: A Case Study In Some Selected TVET Schools in Kwahu Traditional Area

Abstract

The study was undertaken to found out on how the practical skills of TVET students can be enhanced using mathematics as a tool. The instrument used for the study was a questionnaire. Three hundred and sixteen (316) respondents were used in the study consisting of two hundred and thirty-four (234) males and eighty-two (82) females. Simple Random Sampling procedure was used in to select the students while Purposive Sampling technique was used in the selection of form two students in the three TVET schools at Kwahu. The data-collection tools utilized in this study, which focused on variables such TVET students' attitudes toward mathematics (ATTI), interest in mathematics (SMN), and practical skills (PRASK), were modified from earlier studies carried out by other researchers. Structural Equation Model (SEM) software from Amos version 23 was used to analyze the gathered data. The findings of this study demonstrated that TVET students' attitudes toward mathematics had a substantial impact on their interest in mathematics. In addition, the results showed that TVET students' attitudes toward mathematics had a favorable impact and were statistically significant on their practical skills. Moreover, to enhance the practical skills of TVET students, it is recommended that stakeholders in TVET institutions gear the teaching and learning of Mathematics towards students’ practical lessons. Also, emphasis on practice should take precedence over theory in the mathematics curriculum.