German Technical Documentation and Vocational Education: Bridging the Language Gap in Nigerian TVET Institutions

This study examines the challenges associated with German technical documentation in vocational education and training (TVET) institutions in Nigeria, with a focus on institutions in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria, that utilise German-manufactured equipment and machinery. Germany is a major supplier of industrial and agricultural machinery to Nigeria, and the technical manuals, operational guides, and safety documentation that accompany this equipment are frequently produced in German without adequate English translations. This creates a significant knowledge transfer challenge for TVET instructors and students who must operate and maintain German-engineered systems. The study employs a qualitative case study methodology, drawing on interviews with 20 TVET instructors and ten equipment suppliers, supplemented by documentary analysis of machinery manuals in use at five technical colleges in Kaduna. Findings reveal that the inability to access German technical documentation accurately leads to equipment misuse, premature maintenance failures, and safety incidents. Instructors typically rely on partial English summaries or trained guesswork when operating German-language manuals. The study recommends the development of a bilingual technical glossary for TVET use, the establishment of a translation unit within the Federal Ministry of Education, and the inclusion of technical German modules in TVET teacher training programmes. Keywords: technical documentation, German language, TVET, Kaduna State, vocational education.