MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
TEACHING SYLLABUS FOR BLOCK LAYING AND CONCRETING
(TECHNICAL / VOCATIONAL INSTITUTES 1-3)
ENQUIRIES AND COMMENTS ON THIS SYLLABUS SHOULD BE
ADDRESSED TO:
THE DIRECTOR
TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION DIVISION (TVED)
GES HEADQUARTERS
P.O. BOX MB.52
ACCRA, GHANA
TeI: 0302-683679
0302-683676
SEPTEMBER, 2010
TEACHING SYLLABUS FOR TECHNICAL BLOCK LAYING AND CONCRETING
(TECHNICAL / VOCATIONAL INSTITUTES 1-3)
PREAMBLE
RATIONALE FOR TEACHING BLOCK LAYING AND CONCRETING
Nations that have developed throughout history and in recent times are those whose development has been propelled by Technical Education. Compared to the developed nations, third world countries have not done enough in promoting Technical Education. The non recognition of the important role of TVET results in slow economic development. The policy guidelines of the 2004 Education Reforms programme therefore emphasized among other things the need to help the Ghanaian child to be able to use the knowledge derived from Technical Education to transform his/her environment and improve the quality of life.
The studyof Building Construction in the Technical Institutes is intended to provide young persons with the requisite employable skills as a predisposition to technological pursuits at the advanced levels.
The subject therefore offers the trainees the chance to acquire valuable Technical and Vocational skills that will open up a wide range of opportunities for productive work.
GENERAL AIMS
The syllabus is designed to help the trainee to:
- acquire the requisite knowledge, skills for the world of work and attitudes for employment and further Technical and Vocational Education and Training
- acquire the techniques for solving problems in building construction.
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- develop positive attitudes towards application of practical skills, safe use of tools, judicious use of materials and time at site and proper care and maintenance of tools and equipment.
MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENT
Pass in Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
SCOPE OF CONTENT
This syllabus is planned as an integration of knowledge and skills in Plumbing
PRE-REQUISITE SKILLS
Good performance in Basic Design and Technology, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies is necessary for success in this subject.
BEHAVIOURAL OBJECTIVES
These are educational objectives which identify precisely the type of behaviour a trainee should exhibit at the end of a course/module or programme. Two types of behavioural objectives have been used in the curriculum. They are:
(a) General Objectives
(b) Specific learning outcomes
General Objectives are concise but general statements of the behaviour of the trainees on completion of a unit of work such as understanding the principles and application.
(a)Orthographic projection in engineering/technical drawing
(b)Social Studies
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
Specific Learning Outcomes are concise statements of the specific behaviour expressed in units of discrete practical tasks and related knowledge the trainees should demonstrate as a result of the educational process to ascertain that the general objectives or course/programme have been achieved. They are more discrete and quantitative expressions of the scope of the tasks contained in a teaching unit.
CORE SUBJECTS IN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES
The core component of the curriculum aims at providing the learner with complete secondary education in critical subjects like English Language, integrated science, social studies, Mathematics and ICT to enhance the understanding o machines, tools and materials of their trades and their application and as a foundation or post-secondary technical education for the above average learner. Hence, it is hoped that learners who successfully complete their trade and general education may be able to compete with their secondary school counterparts for direct entry in the polytechnics or colleges of education (Technical) for HND. The Social Studies component is designed to broaden the learner’s social skills and of his understanding his environment.
TIME ALLOCATION
The time allocated for a course is as follows:
- Core-21-Periods per week(48%) of total time
- Elective-27 -Periods per week(52%) of total time
Total - 48 - Periods per week 100%
Contact hours per week-32 hours 30 mins. i.e. 6hours30 mins per day for 5 working days.
SCHEME OF EXAMINATION FORBLOCK LAYING AND CONCRETING
NO. OF PAPERSAVAILABLE TO EACH CANDIDATE / DESCRIPTION OF PAPER
Four (4) / This Examination shall consist of four (4) papers, namely, I,II, III and IV. The titles of papers are as follows:
Paper I - Associated Subjects
Paper II - Plumbing Technology
Paper III - Technical Drawing
Paper IV - Practical/Project Work Assessment
Paper IA shall consist of fifty (50) Test Items for the candidate to answer all within one (1) hour for 40 marks Paper IB
shall consist of six (6) Essay Test Items for the candidate to answer any four (4) within two (2) hours for 60 marks
Paper IIA shall consist of fifty (50) Objective Test Items for the candidate to answer all in one (I) hour for 40 marks Paper IIB
shall consist of six (6) Essay Test Items for the candidates to answer any four (4) within two (2) hours for 60 marks
Paper III: This shall consist of two papers for 100 marks each (200) marks
Paper III B shall consist of Six (6) Essay Test Items for the candidate to answer any four (4) within two (2) hours for 60
marks
Paper IV is a Practical/Project Work Assessment for the candidate to undertake (in or outside the school) for 100%. This shall include school-based Practical/Project Work Assessment.
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DURATION:
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PAPER IA -One (I) Hour
PAPER IB-Two (II) Hours
PAPER IIA -One (I) Hour
PAPER IIB-Two (II) Hours
PAPER III A-1 hour
PAPER III B-2 ½ hours
PAPER IV-Minimum of 3 Hours.
WEIGHTING:
PAPER IA- 40 marks
PAPER IB - 60 marks
PAPER IIA- 40 marks
PAPER IIB- 60 marks
PAPER III - 100 marks
PAPER IV- 100 marks
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400 marks
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FINAL CERTIFICATION
The Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) shall conduct the Final Examination and award certificates through Technical Examinations Unit (T EU)
INTEGRATION APPROACH IN THE TEACHING OF TRADE
Theory, Trade Science and Trade Calculation
The traditional approach of teaching trade science and trade calculation as separate and distinct subjects in technical college programmes is not relevant to the new programme as it will amount to a duplication of the teaching of mathematics and physical science subjects in the course. The basic concepts and principles in mathematics and physical science are the same as in the trade calculation and trade science. In the new scheme therefore, mathematics and physical science will be taught by qualified persons in these fields and the instructors will apply the principles and concepts in solving trade science and calculation problems in the trade theory classes. To this end, efforts have to be made to ensure that mathematics and science modules required to be able to solve technical problems were taken as pre-requisite to the trade module.
ASSESSMENT
Instructors should device methods of accurately assessing the trainees to enable them give the student’s final grades at the end of the term. A national examination will be taken by all students who have successfully completed their modules. The final award will be based on the aggregate of the scores attained in course work and the national examination.
GRADING PROCEDURE
To improve assessment and grading and also introduce uniformity in schools, it is recommended that schools adopt the following grade boundaries for assigning grades:
Grade A+=90 – 100Distinction
Grade A=80 – 89Excellent
Grade B+=70 – 79Very Good
Grad B=60 – 69Good
Grade C+=55 – 59Credit
Grade C=50 – 54Pass
Grade D=40 – 49Weak
Grade E=35 – 39Very Weak
Grade F=0 – 34Fai
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STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF SYLLABUS
YEAR ONE
INTRODUCTION TO BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
Unit 1: Basic Elements of Craft Leadership
Unit 2: Workshop and Site Safety
Unit 3: Basic Hand tools for Building Construction
Unit 4: Material and Processes
Unit 5: Walling and Bonding (Bricks and Blocks)
Unit 6: Symbols and Conversions in Building Drawing
Unit 7:Manufacture of Bricks/Blocks
Unit 8:manufacture off Cement
Unit 9:preparation of Mortar
Unit 10: Aggregates
Unit 11: Concrete
YEAR TWO
Unit1:Basic Elements in Industrial Relation
Unit 2:Site Preparation
Unit3:Setting-out of Simple Rectangular Buildings
Unit 4:Foundations
Unit 5:Substructure Construction
Unit 6:Floors
Unit 7:Formwork
Unit 8:Openings in Building
Unit 9:Materials and Processing (Woodwork)
Unit 10: Doors and Windows
Unit 11: Finishing Materials for Building
Unit 12: Scaffolding
Unit 13: Roof Construction
Unit 14: Drawing System
Unit 15: Architectural Draughting Materials and Equipment
Unit 16: Preliminary Design
Unit 17: Design of Dwellings
YEAR THREE
Unit 1:Installation of Services in Dwellings, Schedules and Finished Drawings
Unit 2:Drainage System
Unit 3:kerbs and Surface Drainage
Unit 4:Basic Principles of Site and Workshop Organization
Unit 5:Site Records
Unit 6:Measurements
Unit 7:Construction of Stairs
Unit 8:Basic Principles of Levelling
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