ROLE OF VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT AS PERCEIVED BY BUSINESS EDUCATION UNDERGRADUATES IN EDO STATE

ABSTARCT

The study determined the role of Vocational and Technology Education in reducing unemployment as perceived by Business Education undergraduates in Edo State. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. The population comprises of one hundred and thirty-eight (138) students from 300 level and 400 level. The instrument of this study was a well-structured questionnaire. Four research question were raised to guide this study. The instrument was validated by two experts. The reliability of the instrument was ensured by using Cronbach Alpha reliability statistics which yielded a co-efficient index of .863. The findings of the study indicated that all the factors studied significantly contribute to reducing unemployment.The findings of the study showed the need for universities and educational institutions to prioritize the inclusion of practical skill acquisition, industry collaboration, entrepreneurial training, and modern technology in their curriculum to equippedstudents with the necessary competencies to thrive in an increasingly competitive labor market. The study recommended that  policymakers and educational institutions should integrate practical skill acquisition, strengthen industrial collaboration with industries, promote entrepreneurial initiatives, and incorporate modern technology training into business education programmes to further address unemployment challenges in Edo State and beyond.