THE RELEVANCE OF TECHNICAL DRAWING/GRAPHIC SKILLS ACQUISITION IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA

 Lagooz JSS3 Students solving a Technical Drawing Mock Examination task

Drawing is a graphical representation of a real thing, an idea or a proposed design for construction. Drawing has been developed along two purposes, namely: artistic and technical. Technical Drawing is a specialized graphic language. Its main function is communication of technical information. It is mostly used by people engaged in construction, manufacturing of machines, ships, aircrafts, among others. 

Technical Drawing is used when words alone will not convey all the information required. This language of lines, signs and symbols has to be learned before it can be expressed on paper. Okoro in Uzodinma (2007) emphasizing the importance of technical drawing stated that Technical Drawing is essentially a language by means of which technicians, engineers, craftsmen and industrialists communicate. Technical Drawing is a pictorial language which depends on pictures and lines for conveying the intended meaning.

The objectives of Technical Drawing according to NERDC (2007) include:

-  to provide an understanding of the theoretical and applied concepts relating to the use

   of ICT to facilitate visual communication of ideas in the construction and production industries;

-  provide introduction to modern Drawing Studio practice;

-  lay the foundation for technological development and further studies in Building and

   Engineering; and

-  stimulate, develop and enhance entrepreneurship skills in the diverse areas of Drawing

   Studio practice.

Technical drawing is offered in Nigerian secondary schools, technical colleges and tertiary institutions that offer courses in the areas of Technical Education, Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning and Engineering. The conventional teaching and learning of technical drawing in most Nigerian educational institutions have been characterized by the use of manual facilities such as drawing board, dividers, compasses, set-squares, protractors, French curves, drawing paper, drawing pen, pencils, scales, eraser, among others.

These manual tools make drawing to be more time and energy consuming. The arrival of information and communication technologies (ICTs) presented a more interesting and efficient facilities for the teaching and learning of technical drawing in educational institutions in Nigeria.