Abstract:
Apprenticeship as a mode of training skilled labour has and continues to produce skilled
labour in various fields of work to feed Ghanaian industries. The apparel industry in
Ghana is one such industry which has most of its skilled labour trained by apprenticeship.
In apprenticeship, master craftsmen train a new generation of skilled practitioners in their
fields of expertise on the job. It is sad however to note that the quality levels of garments
produced by such skilled persons do not compare favorably with international ones. The
main objective of the study was therefore to examine the apprenticeship training
programme in Ghana and its impact on the quality of construction in garments
manufactured by apprentices and those trained by this method in Kumasi. This study used
quantitative research approach thereby employing descriptive survey design, which also
used questionnaires and interviews as the research tools. The snowball sampling
technique was used to obtain the needed sample. The data collected was analyzed using
the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software and the results tabulated for
easy understanding. The study revealed that apprenticeship training needed improvement
in instructional detail and recommends a syllabus structured and made available to both
master craftsmen and apprentices. Aspects of quality construction in garments must also
be taught to and instilled in trainees. It was also discovered that no uniform standards
exist for the construction of quality garments for garment producers in Ghana and
therefore the research recommends the provision of a garment standards and
specifications document for them to adhere to.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Fashion and Textiles Technology Education, Faculty of
Vocational Education, submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, University of
Education, Winneba, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for award of Master
Technology Education in Fashion and Textile Design degree.
