EFFECT OF POOR INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SECRETARIAL STUDIES IN POLYTECHNICS IN OWERRI URBAN.

INTRODUCTION
Secretarial studies is a vocational programme that is offered in Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and Universities primarily to educate and train students to become secretarial teachers and administrators with the appropriate skills and competencies to take up a career in teaching, office occupation and business. According to Amoor and Udoh (2008), secretarial education is an area of instruction that has been in existence for several decades, and it plays very significant role in national economic development. It is, according to Usman (2008) a vital tool in the hand of government to combat unemployment crisis, and also according to Ilo (2002) is a tool to alleviate poverty. Secretarial Education is also very useful to private organizations and individuals in terms of employability, job creation and self-reliance.

For an effective learning in the tertiary institution, the required infrastructural facilities should be in place. Thus, for effective secretarial studies in our higher institution, there should be adequate supply of the needed equipment and facilities needed for most of their practical studies. The role and function of a secretary involve a lot and as a result of this, the students who are undergoing secretarial studies should be exposed to the necessary facilities that will enable them in developing and equipping themselves.

The role of infrastructural facilities in the upliftment of secretarial studies is quite crucial and necessary, owing to the fact that we are faced with the invention of telecommunication and the technological status-quo of our contemporary society is fast developing. To this effect, the secretary is faced with the challenges of being acquainted with these new technologies that are revolving around the globe.

Owing to this fact, it is quite dilapidating that most tertiary institution (especially polytechnics) that are offering secretarial studies lacks the facilities and the necessary infrastructure that will enhance the level of secretarial studies to be in line with the contemporary era.

It is clear that in most offices today, the secretaries now receives mail through the internet no longer through letters, most of the office files are documented with computers, telecommunication becomes the medium of communication, and a lot of inventory that the computerized world has introduced to the society, thus, these and more are the complications and challenges facing the secretary in an office in this contemporary era.

In order to help the future secretaries, the government and the management should see that the necessary infrastructural facilities that will help the students in achieving great things are provided.

It is the problems of poor infrastructural facilities in the department of secretarial studies in polytechnics in Owerri Urban that this research work is out to investigate and to pinpoint way in which the situation of poor infrastructural facilities can be minimized in polytechnics.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Secretarial studies Department were established in polytechnics in Owerri Urban with the main aim of training students in the secretarial profession. The department since its inception, has been trying its best in proceeding students of the Secretarial progression.

It is quite a dilapidating issue to note that the present demons or problems in the institutions which emanated as a result of poor infrastructural facilities in the department has twisted the dream of producing well sound and professional secretaries in the society. It must however, be said that one of the greatest predicaments of these institution today is the neglect of the secretarial studies Department whose poor quality very much tend to the craze for good quality make department. Therefore, well established and qualified department is equally contributing to a healthy economy.

In view of the present demands in the institution, it must however, be said that one of the greatest predicaments of polytechnic institutions in Owerri Urban today is the neglect of the secretarial studies department whose poor quality very much tend to the craze for good quality male department. Therefore, well established and equipped department is equally contributing to a healthy economy.