The Concept of Best Practice in Vocational and Technical Education: Case Study of Federal College of Education (Tech) Gombe

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue IV, April 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

The Concept of Best Practice in Vocational and Technical Education: Case Study of Federal College of Education (Tech) Gombe

Ado Makama Adamu PhD¹, Rakiya Audu², Rhoda Sarki Awak PhD³, Yakubu Abubakar^4
1,4Department of Accounting, Federal College of Education Technical Gombe, Nigeria
²Home Economics Department, Federal College of Education Technical Gombe, Nigeria
³Office Technology and Management, Federal College of Education Technical Gombe, Nigeria

Abstract:-The purpose of this study is to appraise what academic staff of Federal College of Education Technical Gombe understands by the concept of ‘best practice’. The concept of best practices resonate with almost everybody, it has been a buzz word in many fields of human endeavors. It is the same in the academic world, yet it isa nebulous construct precisely demarcating what constitute best practice seems to be a daunting task. In this study the concept of best practice was tested with 163 academic staffs of Federal College of Education (Tech.) Gombe. Results indicates that concept of best practice is not well understood by the respondents. Suggestion for further studies is made; among others there is a need for scholars to come up with a group of procedures that will be use as best practice.

Keywords: Best Practice, Concept, Education, Procedures, Standard and Guideline.

I. INTRODUCTION

The concept of best practice is a familiar and acceptable concept in major fields of human action. Best practice is a common term in education and other arenas, such as business, manufacturing and software development. As common a term as best practice is extant literature indicate that it remains elusive to precise definition. According to Hamilton(2011, p.129), “There is no single definition for best practice, the basic elements include practices based on the careful collection of relevant evidence, an action resulting in a positive outcome, and the ability to reproduce results”. Again‘… literature on best practices research [to be] confusing, terminology incoherent, fragmented, and in many ways inconsistent. There is no consensus on what best practice actually is and how it should be properly conducted’(Veselý, 2011, p. 99).
In another development Cato (2001) questioned if collections of intellectual exercises like symposium can be regarded as best practice in a particular field. Subsequently, will symposium on best practice in vocational technical education be accepted as procedures for best practice in teaching vocational technical education? He further suggests considering terms like standard and guideline. Hatheway(1992)defined guideline as – formalization presented

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