Assessment of Vocational Skills Acquisition Among Secondary School Students in Kano State

This study examines the level of vocational skills acquisition among secondary school students in Kano State, North West Nigeria. The increasing rate of youth unemployment has drawn attention to the adequacy of vocational and technical education programmes at the secondary school level. Despite federal and state government policies promoting skills-based learning, many graduates remain unable to translate classroom knowledge into productive employment. This study adopts a descriptive survey design, targeting 350 final-year students across ten public secondary schools in Kano Municipal, Nassarawa, and Fagge local government areas. A structured questionnaire validated by experts in vocational education is used for data collection. The instrument measures skill competencies across five vocational trade areas: woodwork, metalwork, home economics, electrical installation, and auto mechanics. Data are analysed using frequency counts, percentages, and mean scores. Findings are expected to reveal significant gaps between curriculum expectations and practical skill attainment, attributed to inadequate workshop equipment, undertrained teachers, and inconsistent instructional delivery. The study recommends urgent investment in workshop infrastructure, regular teacher professional development, and curriculum review aligned with current industry standards. Results will benefit state education planners, school administrators, and curriculum developers seeking to strengthen vocational education outcomes at the secondary school level in northern Nigeria. Keywords: vocational skills, secondary education, Kano State, skills acquisition, technical education