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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Secretarial studies is a vocational programme that is offered in Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and Universities primarily to educate and train students to become secretarial teachers and administrators with the appropriate skills and competencies to take up a career in teaching, office occupation and business. According to Amoor and Udoh  (2008), secretarial education is an area of instruction that has been in existence for several decades, and it plays very significant role in national economic development.  It is, according to Usman (2008) a vital tool in the hand of government to combat unemployment crisis, and also according to Ilo (2002) is a tool to alleviate poverty.  Secretarial Education is also very useful to private organizations and individuals in terms of employability, job creation and self-reliance.

For an effective learning in the tertiary institution, the required infrastructural facilities should be in place. Thus, for effective secretarial studies in our higher institution, there should be adequate supply of the needed equipment and facilities needed for most of their practical studies. The role and function of a secretary involve a lot and as a result of this, the students who are undergoing secretarial studies should be exposed to the necessary facilities that will enable them in developing and equipping themselves. The role of infrastructural facilities in the upliftment of secretarial studies is quite crucial and necessary, owing to the fact that we are faced with the invention of telecommunication and the technological status-quo of our contemporary society is fast developing. To this effect, the secretary is faced with the challenges of being acquainted with these new technologies that are revolving around the globe.

Owing to this fact, it is quite dilapidating that most tertiary institution (especially polytechnics) that are offering secretarial studies lacks the facilities and the necessary infrastructure that will enhance the level of secretarial studies to be in line with the contemporary era. It is clear that in most offices today, the secretaries now receives mail through the internet no longer through letters, most of the office files are documented with computers, telecommunication becomes the medium of communication, and a lot of inventory that the computerized world has introduced to the society, thus, these and more are the complications and challenges facing the secretary in an office in this contemporary era.

In order to help the future secretaries, the government and the management should see that the necessary infrastructural facilities that will help the students in achieving great things are provided. It is the problems of poor infrastructural facilities in the department of secretarial studies in polytechnics in Owerri Urban that this research work is out to investigate and to pinpoint way in which the situation of poor infrastructural facilities can be minimized in polytechnics. Secretarial studies Department were established in polytechnics in Owerri Urban with the main aim of training students in the secretarial profession. The department since its inception, has been trying its best in proceeding students of the Secretarial progression.

It is quite a dilapidating issue to note that the present demons or problems in the institutions which emanated as a result of poor infrastructural facilities in the department has twisted the dream of producing well sound and professional secretaries in the society. It must however, be said that one of the greatest predicaments of these institution today is the neglect of the secretarial studies Department whose poor quality very much tend to the craze for good quality make department. Therefore, well established and qualified department is equally contributing to a healthy economy. In view of the present demands in the institution, it must however, be said that one of the greatest predicaments of polytechnic institutions in Owerri Urban today is the neglect of the secretarial studies department whose poor quality very much tend to the craze for good quality male department. Therefore, well established and equipped department is equally contributing to a healthy economy.

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The inability of most graduates who have passed through the rigorous secretarial training to measure up to expectation has been a dilapidating issue in the society. Owing to this fact, this research work is faced with the problem of identifying those problems which militates against effective secretarial studies in polytechnics in Owerri Urban in relation to the lack of the necessary infrastructural facilities needed in the department, and for equipment of the secretarial students. To identify ways in which these problems that emanated as a result of poor infrastructural facilities in the department of secretarial studies can be resolved is the a problematic issue facing this research work.

1.3     AIMS AND OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

As a research work, it is aimed at resolving the controversial issue which militates against effective secretarial studies in polytechnic in Owerri Urban, thus the following objectives will be realized in the course of this study

a.  To capture in details the concept of secretarial studies and secretary in line with their functions and responsibilities.

b.  To identify the necessary infrastructural facilities that will be necessary in revamping the effectiveness of secretarial studies in polytechnics Owerri Urban

c.  To pinpoint the effect of poor infrastructural facilities on the productivity of secretarial studies in Polytechnics in Owerri Urban

d.  To give possible solutions that will help to provide the necessary infrastructural facilities needed in the department of secretarial studies.

1.4     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Owing to the fact that the role of secretaries in most organization are so important, this research will be of great significance in the sense that it tries to identify the problems that hinder the growth of secretarial studies in Polytechnics Owerri Urban, and by so doing, the productivity of secretarial job will be elevated. Thus if the findings of this work will be applied vividly, there will great improvement not only with polytechnics Owerri Urban but to the whole tertiary institution at large. This research work will be of great help to future researcher on the topic.

1.5     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This research work does treat in total the importance of infrastructural facilities or the problems and prospects of secretarial studies but limits itself to the effect of poor infrastructural facilities in the department of secretarial studies in polytechnics in Owerri urban. For the sake of clarity, coherency, precision and specification, this research work will be carried within the polytechnics in Owerri Urban though the findings can vividly and validly be applied to all the tertiary institutions at large.

1.6     LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

During the course of this research, a lot of obstacles was encountered. Thus, the uncooperation of most people working in the library and other offices where the researcher needed to get materials posed great problem to the researcher. Some of the staff does not feel safe letting us have access to some materials while others will charge you more than double cost of Photostat before one can get what he want. Financial constraint is another limitation to this works which is as a result of high cost of transportation fare to the area of study to gather data, combined with the cost of material to carry this work to conclusive standard was equally important.

1.7     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

In the bid to offer solution to the problems facing this research work, the following research question will be given answers, thus:

1.  To what extent do secretarial studies necessary in secretarial job?

2.  Do you agree that poor infrastructural facilities can hinder effective secretarial studies?

3.  Is the problem of poor infrastructural facilities in polytechnic Owerri Urban as a result of the negligence on the part of the government or mismanagement on the part of the school administration?

4.  Is there any effort from the government to remedy the problem of infrastructural facilities in the department of secretarial studies?

5.  If yes, what have they done so far?

6.  Is there any relationship between poor infrastructural facilities and the performance of secretarial studies in polytechnic Owerri Urban.

7.  What are the major infrastructural facilities are lacking in the polytechnic Owerri Urban.

1.8     STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS

During the course of this research, the following research hypothesis will be tested.

Ho:  There is no significant relationship between inadequate provision of infrastructural facilities and the productivity of secretarial studies

H1:  There is significant relationship between inadequate provision of infrastructural facilities and the productivity of secretarial studies.

1.9     DEFINITION OF TERMS

Effect: A change or changed state as a direct result of action by somebody or something else.

Poor: This term poor be regarded as inadequate, lower than expected. In view of the context of the study it can be seen as insufficient to serve the desired need.

Infrastructural facilities: this can be regarded as the large scale of public systems, servers and facilities of a country or region that are necessary for economic activity or academic growth including power and water supply, public transportation, telecommunications, roads and schools.

Department: In view of the context of the study, this refers to the sectors of polytechnics that deals with the education of secretarial students.

Secretarial study: this involves the academic activities rendered in academic institution for the training and educating of future secretaries

Secretary: an employee who does clerical or administrative work in an office for a person or organization. Somebody elected or permitted to keep the records of the meetings of an organization such as a club, society or community and to write or answer letters on it behalf.

Polytechnics: According to the Encarta Dictionary, it is a college offering vocational courses: a college offering a range of course, some of them vocational or technical, at or below the bachelor degree level.

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