Enhancing trainee competence for boat building designs at fisheries training institute Entebbe

Abstract

The study aimed at enhancing competence development among boat building trainees at Fisheries Training Institute in Entebbe. The study was based on three objectives: To identify challenges hindering competence development in boatbuilding and marine mechanics. To select strategies, lay procedures and incorporate the identified gap in teaching and learning processes of boat building and marine mechanics; and to evaluate the incorporated strategy in drawing plans of boats. The study embraced Participatory Action Research (PAR) design, and purposive sampling technique was used. The sample (respondents) comprised of three administrators, a head of ICT department, two lecturers of boat building, three assistant lecturers, one artisan, and fourteen boat building students Data were collected through use of; work process analysis, observations, interviews, future workshop, and focused group discussion methods. Findings revealed challenges such as a shortage of staff and teaching resources, difficulties in preserving traditional drawings, traditional hand tools making learners miss out modern skills relevant in industries, lack of computers and software required for boat plan construction. Interventions included recruiting knowledgeable staff, creating an ICT laboratory, training staff in modern drawing tools like AutoCAD, integrating AutoCAD into the curriculum, and providing ongoing support for staff and students, and a lack of familiarity with modern drawing technologies among boat building staff. Conclusively, active engagement of students in the new strategy is essential, especially by use of tutorials and online teachings. Recommendations included further staff recruitment and training, establishment of an ICT laboratory, integration of modern technologies into the curriculum, investment in learning resources, and implementation of evaluation mechanisms. Key words: Competence development, Boat building trainees, Fisheries Training Institute, Tutorials, Online teachings.