Impediments and Strategies for Acquisition of Competence in Pattern Making among Clothing and Textiles Students for Apparel Production in Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the impediments faced by students in Anambra State, Nigeria, in their quest to acquire pattern making competencies and identifies effective strategies for improvement. Guided by two research questions and two hypotheses, the study adopted the ex-post facto research design using the descriptive survey method. The population size of three-hundred and sixty-three (363) students is made up of thirty (30) students from Federal College of Education, Umunze, forty (40) students from Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, twenty-four (24) students from Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu, and two hundred and fifty-nine (269) students from Federal Polytechnic, Oko. No sampling was done because of the manageable size of the population. This research unveils the critical impediments students face, including outdated curricula, inadequate resources, lack of alignment with industry standards, and faculty members' limited expertise in pattern making. Additionally, it identifies strategies for enhancing students' competencies, such as promoting cooperation between educational institutions and industry, equipping laboratories with modern facilities, and encouraging faculty development through refresher courses. The study reveals no significant difference in the impediments faced by students in Colleges of Education and Polytechnics, suggesting that these challenges are consistent across various educational institutions. Similarly, no significant differences were found in the strategies for improving competencies, indicating that the identified solutions are applicable across different institution types. Collaboration between educational institutions, government authorities, and industry stakeholders is crucial to ensure the successful implementation of these strategies, fostering a brighter future for students and the industry at large.

Keywords: Impediments, Strategies, Acquisition, Competence, Pattern Making, Clothing and Textiles, Students, Apparel Production.