Barriers and Enablers of the Implementation of Students’ Practical Workshop for Acquisition of Entrepreneurial Skills in Fisheries in Public Senior Secondary Schools in Abia State

Abstract

This study examined the implementation of the Students' Practical Workshop (SPW) in Fisheries in public senior secondary schools in Abia State, Nigeria. The aim was to identify the barriers and enablers affecting SPW in Fisheries education, with the intent to enhance practical skill acquisition among students. A mixed-methods research design was adopted, integrating both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study targeted students, teachers, and administrators involved in SPW across 50 purposively selected public senior secondary schools in Abia State. A total of 200 participants, including 100 fisheries students, 50 fisheries teachers, and 50 school principals, were conveniently sampled. Data collection methods included in-depth interviews with six respondents and a structured survey questionnaire titled "Students Fisheries Workshop Barriers and Enablers" (SFBE-21), which was validated and tested for reliability with a Cronbach's alpha value ranging from 0.86 to 0.91. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis, while quantitative data were examined using descriptive statistics, including means and standard deviations. The qualitative analysis identified two main themes regarding SPW implementation: limited practical experiences and insufficient implementation. Quantitative findings supported this, with the majority of respondents indicating a low or very low extent of SPW implementation. Barriers identified included lack of infrastructure, inadequate funding, and low student engagement and interest, with lack of infrastructure being the most significant. Conversely, enablers identified included well-maintained infrastructure, high teacher competence, adequate financial support, and collaborative partnerships, all of which received high mean scores from respondents. Thus, this study argues that effective implementation of SPW in Fisheries requires addressing the identified barriers while leveraging the enablers. Thus, improving infrastructure, providing adequate funding, enhancing teacher competence, and fostering collaborative partnerships are essential steps towards enriching practical education in Fisheries. These measures can ultimately enhance the quality of education and better prepare students for future employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in the field of Fisheries.