FACTORS INFLUENCING GRADUAL EXTINCTION OF IGBO TRADITIONAL APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME IN SOUTH EAST, NIGERIA: AN IMPLICATION FOR COUNSELLING

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to ascertain the factors influencing the gradual extinction of igbo traditional apprenticeship scheme in South East Nigeria. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. Cross- Sectional Survey research design was adopted for this study. The population for the study is 100 business owners and apprentice identified within Enugu metropolis. The population size was manageable hence there was no sampling. A 13-itemed questionnaire developed by the researcher was used for data collection. The Instrument was validated by three research experts. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha Reliability Coefficient, overall reliability coefficient was 0.97, indicating that the instrument was reliable for use in data collection. Data collected with the questionnaire was analyzed using Mean with Standard deviation to answer each of the research questions. However, each of the two hypotheses was tested using t-test statistics at .05 level of significance. On the decision, items with mean score less than 2.50 was considered little extent while items with mean of 2.50 and above was considered great extent. The null hypotheses were not rejected when the significant level was less than 0.05 and were rejected when the significant level was equal or more than 0.05 level of significance. The result of the findings revealed that sudden dismissal of an apprentice and poor settlement of an apprentice to a great extent influence gradual extinction of Igbo traditional apprenticeship scheme in South East, Nigeria. There is no significant difference in the mean ratings of business owners and apprentice on the extent to which sudden dismissal of an apprentice influence gradual extinction of Igbo traditional apprenticeship scheme in South East, Nigeria and that there is no significant difference in the mean ratings of business owners and apprentice on the extent to which poor settlement of an apprentice influence gradual extinction of Igbo traditional apprenticeship scheme in South East, Nigeria. Based on the findings of this study, the researchers recommended among others; that there should be institutionalization of legal framework for the parties under the Igbo apprenticeship scheme so as to ensure the existence of a valid contract between the master (Oga) and apprentice (Nwaboi), which will ensure that duties and responsibilities by both parties are adhered to, otherwise consequences will be ensured.