BUSINSS EDUCATION LECTURERS’ PROFESSIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT: AN INGREDIENT FOR QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY TOWARDS STUDENTS’ ACQUISITION OF EMPLOYABLE SKILLS

The need to reduce unemployment among business education graduates in Nigeria necessitated this study. The study ascertained professional code of conduct as an ingredient for quality instructional delivery towards students’ acquisition of employable skills. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted correlational research design using 83 business education lecturers from two colleges of education in Anambra State. There was no sampling technique. A-19 item structured questionnaire tagged “Business Education Lecturers’ Professional Code of Conduct and Students’ Acquisition of Employable Skills (BELPCC-SAES)” was used as instrument for data collection. Face validity of the instrument was determined using three experts in the field of Business Education and Measurement and Evaluation while the reliability of the instrument was established using pilot-testing and data collected were calculated using Cronbach Alpha formula which yielded co-efficient values.79 and .84 obtained for section A and B respectively with an overall index of.82. Data were analyzed using Pearson product moment correlation. Findings showed that there were strong positive relationships existing between business education lecturers’ regularity to work, innovativeness in instructional delivery and students’ acquisition of employable skills. It was also found that the relationships between the two independent variables covered and students’ acquisition of employable skills were significant. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher concluded that adherence to professional code of conduct such as regularity to work and innovativeness in instructional delivery by business education lecturers can enhance students’ acquisition of employable skills. It was recommended among others that; business education lecturers should embrace more innovation in their instructional delivery so as to enhance students’ acquisition of employable skills for self-reliance.

Keywords: Business Education Programme, Professional Code of Conduct, Instructional Delivery, Employable Skills