OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMMES: A PANACEA FOR BRIDGING THE GAP IN HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT FOR 21ST CENTURY IN RIVERS STATE.
Keywords:
Open and Distant Learning, Human Capital, Entrepreneurship Skills, Graduate Programme, National Open University of NigeriaAbstract
This study investigated the influence of open and distance learning on human capital development in National Open University Nigeria Rivers State Chapter.Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. The study was carried out in National Open University of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter. This study was anchored on the theory of interaction and communication by Michael Moore (1981). The design adopted for this study was a descriptive survey design. The population of this study consisted of 1,250 learners in National Open University of Nigeria Rivers State Chapter, with a sample size of 350 which represents 27% of the total population. The instrument used for the study was 12 item questionnaires titled Influence of Open and Distance Learning on Human Capital Development Questionnaire {IODLHCDQ) which was designed and developed by the researcher. The instrument was validated by experts in Measurement and Evaluation on which yielded a reliability index of 0.85 using the Cronbach alpha technique. The instrument adopted a rating scale of four-point subjected to mean (), mean set , standard deviation and rank order statistics to answer research questions while the hypotheses were tested with Z-test at 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that certificate programmes, diploma and degree courses had influence on the learners by subjecting the learners on courses such as entrepreneurship education, accounting, e-learning and e-banking through open and distance learning, the results also revealed some certificate courses in baking, poultry and catering, for skill enhancement. The hypotheses showed no significant difference in the mean scores of male and female learners in two of the variables except one tested. It was recommended that more educational enhancement courses and entrepreneurial skill development programmes be introduced for human resource development in National Open University of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter.
