ACHIEVING MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT IN MAINTENANCE OF SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE AND EFFICIENT POWER SUFFICIENCY

Abstract

This study was on achieving manpower development in maintenance of solar photovoltaic (SPV) installations for sustainable power sufficiency. The main objective of this study was to achieve manpower development by engaging learners in pragmatic instructional experiences in maintenance of SPV installations. The study was carried out in Federal College of Education (Technical), (FCE (T)) Omoku, Rivers State, Nigeria. The population was 60 subjects consisting of all the 55 final year students in the Department of Electrical Electronic in the 2021/2022 academic session and 5 electricians in Estate and Works Department of the college. The entire population was used for the study. The faulty 3.5KVA 48V SPV installation at the office of the Deputy Provost, FCE (T) Omoku was used for the study. A 15-item validated instrument with a reliability coefficient of 0.73 answerable on a 4- point scale of Very High Extent, (VHE- 4) High Extent (HE -3), Low Extent (LE -2) and Very Low Extent (VLE – 1) was used for this study. Data obtained were analyzed using mean statistic and standard deviation. Item with mean value of 2.5 and above were rated as VHE while item below 2.5 as VLE. Findings showed that learning by doing strategy, provision of real-life situation and project method to a very high extent enhance the achievement of manpower development in maintenance of solar photovoltaic installations. Among others, it was recommended that opportunity for instructional experiences based on learning by doing approach for achieving manpower development in maintenance of SPV be enhanced.