Analysis of Village Extension Workers’ Capabilities in Producing Electronic Media for Extension Education in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The dearth of Village Extension Workers (VEWs) who have requisite skills and competencies in the production of electronic media for extension education in the study area has remained the bane of effective extension education, particularly to rural clientele who are constrained by literacy to communicate. Hence, the study analyzed the capabilities of Village Extension Workers’ to produce electronic media for extension education in Imo State. Specifically, the study examined the level to which VEWs are trained in electronic media production; assessed the capabilities of the VEWs to produce electronic media; as well as assessed the relationship between the training given to VEWs and the capabilities of VEWs to produce electronic media. Data were collected from 120 sampled extension personnel using structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using mean, standard deviation and Z-test. The results show that electronic media production skills taught in extension were inadequate as only 4 out of the 16 requisite skills areas understudied were taught to VEWs. The result also revealed that the average extension worker lacked the capability ( =0.6) to produce electronic media. At 5% Significantg level, the result showed that the training given to the VEWs on electronic production did not differ with the capabilities of the VEWs to produce electronic media (Z-cal =1.93; Z-tab =1.96). The study concluded that VEWs in the study area lacked the capabilities to produce electronic media for extension education, and therefore recommended a review of extension pre-service and in-service training curriculum towards making it more robust and effective in equipping VEWs with the knowledge and skills needed to leverage the media for effective extension education.