INFLUENCE OF OFFICE TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT CURRICULUM ON CAREERREADINESS OF GRADUATING STUDENTS IN POLYTECHNICS

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the influence of OTM curriculum on career readiness of graduating
students in the polytechnics following the observation in the world of work that graduates are experiencing
difficulty in transiting from academic life to work life. Two objectives, two research questions and two null
hypotheses guided the study. Descriptive survey research design was used. Population of the study consists the
whole 294 graduating students of the two public polytechnics offering OTM programme in Kwara state from
which data was collected. A four-point modified Likert-type rating scale of 67 items questionnaire was designed
and validated by three research experts. Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient calculated for the instrument was
0.99. Research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation. The hypotheses were tested using
the independent samples t-test. The study established that the OTM curriculum has high extent of influence on
career readiness of graduating students of the programme. The problem of skill gap or inability to transit from
academic life to work life is therefore not the fault of the OTM curriculum. It was recommended that lecturers
should employ all provisions in the curriculum such as role playing, discussion, excursion among others, to
adequately prepare the students for the world of work.