STUDY OF THE CHOICE OF COURSES IN CONSTRUCTION TRADES- CASE STUDY OF ASUANSI TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

ABSTRACT

The main aim of the study was to investigate the study of the choice of courses in construction trades, using Asuansi Technical Institute in Central Region as a case study.The study employed a case study research design. Quantitative research approach was used. The population for the study was four hundred and ninety-one (491). The population of the study was made up of construction students and tutors at the Asuansi Technical School in the Central Region of Ghana. The random and purposive sampling techniques was used to select 214 participants for the study. The study found that the choice of courses in construction trades pursued were, building construction technology, architectural drafting technology, plumbing and gas fitting technology, wood construction technology, furniture construction and design technology in that order. The factors that influenced students to choose specific construction trades were; the performance and ability to study the construction trade, parents’ cultural influences on subject choice, the availability of educational materials, and good wages, salary, and conditions of Service. The difficulties associated with career choice in construction trades included; narrow and static range of skills offered, restricted opportunity for learning to work effectively, the minimal knowledge of materials (behaviour and characteristics) and processes may affect the quality, lack of standardised training and independent testing makes it difficult to control the quality of the training, and high cost of training craft skill. The study recommended that the Government in collaboration with professional construction regulatory bodies should make policies that will regulate craft skill training and certification in the construction industry.