Abstract

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS NEEDED IN THE 21ST CENTURY SECONDARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS DELIVERY FOR JOB CREATION

1ANAKPUA, BLESSING C. (PhD), 2CHIAKWELU AMAKA BENEDINE (PhD) & 3EMEFO CHINYERE N

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The study explored the employability skills needed in the 21st century secondary school mathematics delivery for job creation. Three research questions guided the study. Descriptive survey design was adopted. A population of 154 mathematics teachers in Onitsha Education zone of Anambra State was involved in the study. A 30-item questionnaire having three sections titled “Questionnaire on Employability Skills needed in the 21st century Secondary School Mathematics Delivery for Job Creation (QESSSMDJC), “Questionnaire on the Impact of Employability Skills in the 21st century Secondary School Mathematics Delivery for Job Creation (QIESSSMDJC) and “Questionnaire on the Extent of Application of Employability Skills in the 21st century Secondary School Mathematics Delivery for Job Creation(QEAESSSMDJC)” was validated by three experts in Science Education (Mathematics Education and Measurement and Evaluation). Reliability index of 0.74 was determined using Cronbach Alpha method. Mean, percentage and chart were used to answer the research questions. Findings of the study showed that the employability skills needed in the 21st century secondary school mathematics delivery for job creation are problem solving skills, effective communication, creativity, student – teacher relationship, evaluation, critical thinking, innovations, team work and computation skill. Adapting to innovations, fostering problem –solving approach, embracing teamwork, solving real-world problems, developing lifelong learners, enforcing collaborative learning approach, promoting logical reasoning and proper evaluation are the impacts of employability skills in the 21st century secondary school mathematics delivery for job creation. Further findings showed that most mathematics teachers do not use innovations like ICT and technologies in teaching mathematics and occasionally use critical thinking and creativity for mathematics activities. It was recommended among others that problem solving skill, effective communication, creativity, student – teacher relationship, evaluation, critical thinking, innovation (ICT and technologies), team work and computation skill should be use in the 21st century secondary school mathematics delivery for job creation. Keywords: Employability skills, secondary school, mathematics, mathematics delivery and job creation.

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