AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION FOR SUSTAINABLE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AMONG PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

The study investigated aquaculture production in enhancing sustainable skills development among public secondary school students in Rivers State. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey design, the population   of the study was 450 (agricultural science student and teachers drawn from six kingdoms in ogoni. These schools were selected based on availability of Agricultural science teachers, practical agriculture involvement and Accessibility spread across the six kingdoms of Ogoni.  The target population is 400, The sample size for the study was 400 using stratified random sampling technique to select respondents. The instrument for data collection was a self-structured questionnaire designed titled Aquaculture production for sustainable skills development (APSSD) in a 4-point rating scale of low extent (1) high extent (4) the reliability of the instrument was established using the test-retest method using Pearson’s correlation which yielded (r - 0.81). data was analyzed using mean and standard deviation with a criterion mean value of 2.50 and above while a z-test statistical tool was used to test the null hypotheses at a significance level of 0.05. Finding revealed that aquaculture production significantly enhances students’ general stills, including team work, entrepreneurship and sustainable farming practices students also demonstrated a high level of competence in pond construction, water regulation and maintenance practices. Furthermore, while students showed positive outcomes in egg fertilization skills, the results suggest the need for more advanced, hands-on training hatchery operations. The study recommends that aquaculture is available tool for vocational and life skills development in secondary schools and also recommends its full integration into the agricultural science curriculum through practical-based learning, teacher training and provision of functional aquaculture infrastructure in schools.