INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSES OF STUDENTS POOR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE STUDY OF SECRETARIAL ADMINISTRATION IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSES OF STUDENTS POOR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE STUDY OF SECRETARIAL ADMINISTRATION IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

ABSTRACT

The researchers in this study set out to discover why college students in Enugu state are so unmotivated to major in secretarial studies. The researcher employed a combination of questionnaires, course materials, and in-person interviews to compile the necessary data from a total of 610 respondents from a subset of Enugu State’s universities. The sample size was 400. The study’s research questions were three in number. The results demonstrated that: Not enough resources were made available to facilitate the delivery of the course. There is a substantial financial commitment required for this training. Prior to enrolling in the department, the majority of students were not adequately aided by guidance and counselling. Finally, the researcher offered some helpful recommendations and proposals about the provision of necessary equipment for the Department of Secretarial Studies. Because of the high cost of the equipment, the researcher believes that the government should assist the tertiary institutions offering this course. A healthy rapport between students and professors is essential, and the researcher also suggested that students have access to guidance and counselling services before making course selections.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Background of the Study 

The training required to become an effective secretary is a part of what is commonly referred to as “secretarial studies,” or education for secretaryship. Being able to communicate with people, write and translate shorthand on a typewriter, operate a manual and electric typewriter, and use a computer are all examples of these abilities.

A good secretary needs all of these ancillary abilities to carry out their job effectively. Many academics have written on the topic of secretarial studies as part of business education; they all agree that this field of study teaches students the abilities they’ll need to succeed in corporate settings.

Among similar courses, secretarial studies is among the most literate. Graduates of this program have endless options when it comes to finding a job.

For instance, in Nigeria, there is an endless demand for secretaries from all sorts of businesses. Due to their education, experience, and responsibilities, secretaries now often fill the role of an administrative assistant, a rung below that of a manager. Currently, a secretary’s responsibilities below the managerial level vary from company to company. All of these things need on manual labour, more education, and practical experience.

The role of the secretary is safe from competition despite the widespread adoption of new office technologies. The secretary’s career complaints are endless; she is aptly called an office encyclopaedia or a live-wire of an organisation.

Secretaries get the training they need to be adaptable in today’s increasingly computerised and complicated workplace. However, current students, particularly men, have a negative outlook about pursuing the secretarial track in higher education, despite all the available alternatives. In our emerging economy, the shortage of competent secretaries has been striking.

A lot of students want to become secretaries so they may cash in on the growing need in our rapidly evolving economy, yet the secretary has a bad reputation due to years of misrepresentation, misunderstanding, and misinterpretation.

This study is necessary because we need to identify the “causes of students poor attitude towards the study of secretarial studies in tertiary institutions” so that we can address the issues that have been identified.

Instead than worrying about low enrolment, secretarial administration instructors should be asking themselves how to stay up with the rapid technological evolution of secretarial office equipment.

1.2 Statement Of The Problem

The number of students interested in pursuing secretarial courses at universities has been falling for some time. Additionally, it has been noted that a larger proportion of applicants to the course are women these days. Another twist is that several of the course instructors have publicly stated that they ended up in secretarial work because they felt they didn’t belong in more prominent academic fields.

Educators and administrators at universities that provide this course in business have legitimate concerns about this unsightly trend. There will likely be a severe shortage of competent secretaries to staff the many corporate offices around the nation if the current trend is allowed to persist.

Similarly, some secretarial roles require a more masculine touch, which is an effort to steer clear of the stereotypically feminine “leaves” worn by female secretaries. It has also come to light that not all students receive the necessary support to understand the significance of the course.

Given the vast, important, and difficult nature of modern secretarial studies, the researcher set out to examine the reasons behind students’ negative attitudes towards secretarial studies in Enugu State’s higher education institutions, as well as to propose practical and long-term solutions to these problems.

1.3 The Purpose Of The Study

First, we need to find out if the necessary tools are available to teach and understand the material.

2. To know why secretarial administration isn’t a popular choice among students.

3. To find out if a guidance counsellor was helping students make course selections.

4. To discover the reasons behind the preponderance of women in the field?

5. To suggest appropriate majors for students in Enugu State who are unmotivated to study secretarial administration at the university level.

1.4 The significance Of The Study

Students in Enugu State and around Nigeria who are interested in secretarial administration can hopefully benefit from the suggestions made in this research. The research will also contribute to dispelling the myth that secretarial administration is an academically or mentally challenged major.

This study will also shed light on the fact that the course does not discriminate based on gender, which is important information for potential students to know. Some students’ unfavourable attitudes and lack of enthusiasm towards reading the course materials can be alleviated by this study.

Students will be more interested in taking the secretarial administration course after reading the study and following the suggestions. As a result, our department and industries will have access to the skilled workers they need to adapt to the modern world.

1.5 The Scope of the Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate why students at Enugu’s Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) and Our Saviour’s Institute of Science and Technology (OSISATEC) approach secretarial administration with such a negative outlook.

1.6 Research Questions

1. Is there sufficient funding and equipment for the secretarial department to teach pupils specialised knowledge?

2. Is career coaching provided to prospective secretarial students prior to their admission?

3. What makes women so dominant in this field?

4. How can we improve students’ attitude towards secretarial administration as a field of study?