| Description | | CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Public relations has become a potent marketing tool in modern business management in recent times. Its influence is being felt on both big and small firms with the influence of even greater expansion. It is important for management organization including tertiary institutions to understand its potential and limitations.
Nwokoye (1984:212) defined public relations as the activities of co ? operations, union, government or other organisations in building and marketing sound and productive relations with special public such as customers, relations employees or stock holders and with public at large so as to adopt itself to its environment and interpret itself to the society.
Bush and Houston (1995:200) noted that public relations is management functions which evaluate public attitude, identifies policies and procedures of an individuals or an organisations with the public interest and execute a programme of action to earn public understanding and acceptance.
Chukwu (2000:3 ? 4) stated that public relations practice is a management philosophy aimed at doing everything possible to create good relationship between one organization and its publics.
Public Relations is aimed at making friends for the organization and building internal and external good will on the reasonable assumption that these are strongly needed for an organization to remain in business and make profit with the increase in the activities of an organization. The need for an adequate communication between the organization and those who in one way or the other are affected by these activities of the organization becomes more imperative. An organization while wanting to remain liable, need to have good relations with its employees, consumers of its products and services, future investors, stock ? holders and infact that is the general public. As an organization specialized in manufacturing to potential customers that is up to date, forward looking concerned to produce and offer the best goods and services for the rice it charges and make sure that its customers are really satisfied.
Edoga and Ani (2001:287) noted that a company should deliberately plan and execute a continuous public relations programme to develop a good relation between it and that various publics, amongst sought with public relations.
Stressing the position of public relations in the country, Olakunori (1999:194) noted that most officials occupying the public relations of various organizations in the country today are not professionals; they generally have a fair knowledge of what they are supposed to do.
Federal polytechnic uwana ebonyi state (aifp)(AIFP) as an institution or organization has the students, members of its staff, parents- teachers association, the management, the host society, the state and the federal government, Nigerian Universities commission (NUC) etc. as its relevant publics. This implies that the activities performed by AIFP in one way or the other affect those aforementioned various public. Therefore, in order to maintain its public relations with those bodies, AIFP must at all time try to create a rapport and understanding or goodwill with all those bodies. This it will do through proper information circulation between itself and those various relevant publics to it. This can be done by allowing the free flows of information, paying of salaries as and when due to its staff, engaging in proper and standard academic work, abiding by the rules and regulations of NUC in the performance of its activities.
Manufacturers and producers of goods and service are now aware that public relations does not only ensure good relations with the public but can strive towards profit making through increased customers patronage. It is in the light of the importance attached to public relations that the researcher seeks to appraise the effectiveness of public relations in service industries in Federal polytechnic uwana ebonyi state (aifp)(AIFP) as a case study.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
A good corporate image is usually regarded to be essentials for the existence of an organization. The success or failure of a corporation depends on its relationship with its publics, consumers, employees, stock-holders, government, community, distributions, supplies and others. A favourable corporate image create confidence in an organisations or institution.
There has been occupational troubles in tertiary institutions as become the order of the day. But AIFP as always remained in sector despite the occasional occurrence of these ugly incidents. The questions that called for answer are:-
Why has this problem of internal wrangle in our tertiary institutions?
Why has AIFP not witness the major break down of law and order despite the increase in school fees?
Why has AIFP been able to maintained peace despites the facts that there are some polities that do not go down well with the staff, lecturers and the students of the institute?
To what extent has public relations contributed in maintenance of peace and harmony in the institutions these and many more are the central task of this research work.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
To give focus to the study the following objectives are formulated:-
1. To find out the level of attention given to the publics in Federal polytechnic uwana ebonyi state (aifp)(AIFP).
2. To find out whether the institution have good relationship with the press.
3. To examine the level of students, lecturers, staff and management relations in AIFP.
4. To know how public relations help in improving communication between people and the organization.
5. To recommend solution to problems on public relations identified.
6. To determined the impact of public relations on consumers (students) patronage
7. To appraise the public relations activities of Federal polytechnic uwana ebonyi state (aifp)(AIFP).
1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
Public Relations activities of AIFP
Ho: Public Relations activities of AIFP does not lead to increase the awareness of their services
Hi: These lead to increase the awareness of their services.
Ho: Public Relations activities of AIFP does not give
attention to the student of the institution
H2: Public Relations activities of AIFP gives attention to the student of the institution.
Ho: Public Relation activities of AIFP does not lead to increase (students) patronage.
H3: Public Relation activities of AIFP lead to increase (students) (students) patronage.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The most outstanding hope of this study is that, its finding will be of immense benefit to students, lecturers and staff of management of tertiary institutions. These will help to minimize conflicts in this institutions.
The study also gives an insight into the problem and practice of public relations in Nigeria Institutions of higher learning. This study by its objectives will not only assess the effectiveness of classified public relations, but all its application and uses generally. Therefore, when successfully carried out and documented, this study will serve as a source of relevant information to many institutions and organisations on ways of using public relations.
Finally, public relations practioners have been deprived of excellent performance in the operations because of scanty and insufficient data and adequate literature availability in this area.
This study when successfully completed and adequately supervised will be an addition to the essentials literature needed in public relations. Practitioners and consultants will therefore use it extensively for reference.
Based on forgoing, it becomes indisputable that the need for this study is worthwhile.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study covers public Relations activities in service industries and it will equally cover an over view of public relations in service industries. The role of public relations activities in improving the image of service industries especially tertiary institutions. Due to limited time and other constraints, emphases was placed on Federal polytechnic uwana ebonyi state (aifp)(AIFP). Despite the fact that Enugu State University is the only institution use as a case study, but the researcher believes that whatever happens to Federal polytechnic uwana ebonyi state (aifp)(AIFP) will equally apply to other institutions in the state. | CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
The term ?administration; is often used to mean ?to execute; or ?to enforce. However, the job of an administrator involves more than mere execution of plans and decisions made elsewhere. Accordingly, Onyene (2005) noted that where administrative function is reduced to execution, critical details are ignored. According to her, administration is a process of achieving organizational goals through frantic efforts directed towards putting to optimal use every available resource such as human, money, material and entrepreneurial skills. Perhaps it is in this operationally intricate sense that a school of thought reasoned that administration is more complex than management. This is because day-to-day school administration entails critical procedures through which one in a position of authority such as the head teacher or principal discharges his/her responsibilities using the combined efforts of other people. Administration uses organized method to ensure the achievement of the aims and objectives of the school or any organization. Thus, the school administrator such as the principal combines his or her conceptual, technical, and human skills in ?performing a garmot of management functions like planning, organizing, staffing, directing, controlling, instructing, communicating, supervising, etc (Onyene 2000). Besides, in a private school situation, Onyene (2005) noted that administration is most tasking because it has to sometimes commence with fundamental issues in structural designing, asking and answering essential questions on enrolment and patronage such as customer relations, customer values and satisfaction, learning and curriculum repackaging and many more. This workload explains why effective school administration is often at crisis level.This is because investors in schools in a bid to break even in terms of cost-benefit employ unqualified persons to head their schools. Thus, the head teacher or principal may not possess those administrative skills which he or she can strategically use for achieving corporate excellence. In actual sense for a private school to attain organizational effectiveness, proper definition of tangible and non-tangible goals is expected. In order words, private school organizations must pursue in a very personal astute manner consciously defined goals and or purposes using the helm of affairs. Once these goals are attained both internal efficiency and ?break-even?, normally follow using simple administrative maintenance tips.
Furthermore, the practice of administration is as old as humanity. It is the art and science of systematic and careful arrangement of resources (human, materials, funds) available to an organization for the achievement of its objectives (Onyene, 2000). Besides, industrial revolution heralded in a strong concern for how best to organize human and material resources to ensure maximum profits for the employers. But the Human Relations Movement (HRM) as a reaction to the scientific management of industrial revolution stressed how best to motivate persons to harness materials for maximum productivity and for individual worker?s satisfaction. This is a concern, earlier confined to business and industrial enterprise. Thus, the theory and practice of administration were regarded as the monopoly of business, industrial enterprises, and later the public service. This explains the greater popularity of such terms as ?business administration and ?pupils administration?. According to Nwankwo (1982), Educational Administration when fully emerged was perceived as a translation of the principles and processes used in business and public administration. This impression is fast fading with the growing realization that all human organizations whether they are business, industries, public, religious, educational or military, have equivalent and transferable factors and challenges which demand identical theories and strategies coupled with the fact that all human problems emanates from administration (Onyene, 2005).
Administration is a determinant of the level of organizational efficiency and or successes and failures. Three key elements to an organization?s success according to Onyene (2005) include effective leadership; effective human resources recruitment and management; and effective development of persons, programmes and activities. The level of administrative efficiency goes to determine whether the organization will level off for growth; become stagnated and decline, or blossom forth to achieve new heights and grow through expansion. Educational administration therefore involves the use of fundamental procedures consisting of both administrative and operative management techniques to attain the goal of education. Thus, administrative manager of a school is constantly planning, organizing, and controlling. In operative management as in school administration, the task consists of mainly supervising, motivating, and communicating on day-to-day basis.
In the secondary schools, it is the principals that are saddled with administrative functions (supervising, motivating and communication). It is therefore expected that principals should use their offices to mobilize the school personnel, especially the academic personnel to perform their teaching jobs effectively. It is against this expectation that this study attempts to examine the extent to which teachers? performance in staff secondary schools in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area is influenced by administrative functions of the principals.
Statement of Problem
This study attempts to examine the extent to which secondary school principals have used their administrative functions to influence teachers? work performance. It is predicated on the words of Ofoegbu, (2001) who noted that teachers in secondary schools are neither given the desired attention nor carried along by the school managers (principals) as they perform their administrative functions of motivating, supervising and communicating. This inadequate involvement of teachers in administrative activities by the principals is noted by Ofoegbu to be one of the major factors affecting the morale and job performance of teachers in Nigerian secondary schools.
Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study includes the following:
1. To examine the relationship between principals? supervisory activities in schools and teachers? work performance.
2. To determine whether there is any relationship between principals? motivating activities in schools and teachers? work performance.
3. To assess the relationship between principals? communicating activities in schools and teachers? work performance.
Research Questions
The questions below were raised in the study.
1. Do principals? supervisory activities in schools influence teachers? work performance?
2. Is there any relationship between principals? motivating activities in schools and teachers? work performance?
3. Do principals? communicating activities have any relationship with teachers? work performance?
Research Hypotheses
The following hypotheses were postulated to guide the study.
1. There is no significant relationship between principals? supervisory activities in schools and teachers? work performance.
2. There is no significant relationship between principals? motivating activities in schools and teachers? work performance?
3. There is no significant relationship between principals? communicating activities and teachers? work performance?
Significance of the Study
This study is significant in the following ways:
First and foremost, it would be relevant to both principals and teachers in the sense that it would enable them to re-examine their professional commitment.
It is policy oriented in the sense that it is aimed at filling the gap between principals? and teachers? interpersonal relationship and achievement orientation at our secondary schools, especially the public ones.
It would serve as a reference document in the department of Educational Administration for research students carrying out research on the same or similar topic.
It would also be relevant in calling for review of teachers? position in the nation and the entire society with the view of challenging them to occupy their rightful positions and become more effective in the education system.
Scope of the Study
This study focused on examining the relationship between administrative functions of principals and teachers? work performance in staff secondary schools in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State. It covered the three staff secondary schools (University of Lagos Staff School, Yaba College of Technology Staff School, and Federal College of Education (Tech) Staff School) in Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State; involved only the teachers in these schools.
Definition of Terms
The terms below are defined in the way their meanings specifically apply to this study.
Teacher: A teacher particularly in schools is a trained person who manages the teaching/learning process efficiently.
Teaching: It is a composite activity, which may be difficult to describe by simple definition. Most theorists viewed it as a process of imparting knowledge, or skill to learners.
Motivation: The drive or urge that makes one behave in a particular way. This drive or urge can be intrinsically (internally) or extrinsically (externally) caused. | ABSTRACT
This project is on Effects of overpopulation on the academic performance of students in government secondary schools in Owerri municipal council of Imo state. It is designed to identify the factors that contribute to the increase in students' population, find out the students - teacher ratio in government secondary schools and also the impact of the increase on the academic performance of students. A descriptive survey design was used, while the population of the study consists of government owned secondary schools in Owerri educational zone. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the four (4) schools out of the nine (9) schools in the zone. The four secondary schools selected have a total population of five thousand five hundred and thirty (5530) students and eighty (80) teachers. The sample size consists of five hundred and fifty four (554) students and eight (8) teachers. Data were represented in a tabular form. A closed format questionnaire with four points likert rating scale was used for data collection, and the mean score were used in analyzing the responses of the research questions. As a result of this research work it was found out that the students - teacher ratio in government secondary schools is between 55 - 60 students per teacher. Some recommendations were made, which include that the ministry of education should give quota on the students enrolment in government secondary schools in order to reduce the number of students per teacher, and infrastructural facilities should be provided to the schools in rural areas in order to avoid
students' migration to the urban areas. | CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Conflict management in a education sector, the management of conflict in education sector using peaceful, non-violent methods has been around for a long time. In nearly all African societies there is a preference for the peaceful settlement of dispute along the line prescribed frowned at. In a few instance where it may be tolerated, the community rather than the individual has to be sanctioning authority, the sanctioning following due process. In all civilized parts of the world, there is growing resort to the peaceful settlement of dispute in an organization. The image of violence presented by the media is not as such a true reflection of the dominant method of settling conflict in an organizations. There is an enormous amount of dispute taking place at various levels and in many organizations communities, groups and international levels.
A wider range of non-violent method of managing conflict avails to the conflict transformation world. These methods are available at the individual, family, group, community and international levels.
Conflict management is the process of reducing the negative and destructive capacity of conflict through a number of measures and by working with through the parties involved in that conflict. This term is some times used synonymously with ?conflict regulation?. It covers the entire area of handling conflict pristinely at different stages, including those efforts made to prevent conflict by being practice. It encompasses conflict limitation, containment and litigation. In the words of (John Barton), this may include ?conflict prevention? (Barton 1990) a term he used to connote containment of conflict through steps introduced to promote conditions in which collaborative and valued relationships control the behavior of conflict parties. The term ?conflict management? is perhaps an administration and admission of the reality that conflict is in evitable but that not all conflicts can always be resolved. Therefore what practitioners can do is to manage and regulate them.
Conflict resolution is seen by Miller (2003:8) as a variety of approaches aimed at terminating conflict from management or transformation through the constructive solving of problems, distinct from management of conflict. Miall etal (2005;21)indicated that by resolution, it is expected that the deep rooted sources of conflict are addressed and resolved and behavior is no longer violent, nor are attitudes hostile any longer while the structure of the conflict has been changed. Mitchel and bank (1996) use conflict resolution to refer to:
(i) An outcome in which the issue in an existing conflict are satisfactorily dealt with through a solution that is mutually acceptable to the parties, self-sustaining in the run and productive of a new, positive relationship between parties that were previously hostile adversaries and
(ii) Any process or procedure by which such an outcome is achieved.
Conflict transformation has been introduced by John Paul leaderach of the Eastern Mennonite school of peace building. It is assumed that this goes beyond conflict resolution to build longer standing relationships and the conditions that created the conflict, the process of change in perceptions and attitudes of parties, their relationships and perceptions.
Miall etal (2001). Conflict transformation entails the coming into being of new situations involving conflict issues, perceptions relationships and communication pattern (Jeong, 2000).
According to John ledorah (1995) sees conflict transformation as change. It can be descriptively in the change created by social conflict, and prescriptive in the deliberate intervention by third parties to create change. Conflict transformation takes place at different levels and has a number of dimensions. At the personal level, it involves emotional, perceptual and spiritual aspects of change desired for the individual. It also affects relationship touching on communication between parties that needs to change to positively affect poorly functioning communication. Change also needs to affect structures that generate conflict through deprivation, exclusion and other forms of injustice. It also seeks to understand cultural patterns and values.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:
The challenge for conflict management theory is to study real problems in the world rather them just deal with cases. In the issues in practice section a number of topics that confront theoretical and practitioners on all levels of activity are introduced and analyzed in view of the theoretical approaches. Most of these issues are answers to problems that span across the entire field of conflict management, or cross cutting agendas that have to be dealt with in order for the theoretical approaches to truly tackle the reality of conflicts. It involves evaluating the effectiveness of conflict management as well as its readiness to deal with new problems and new issues, such as terrorism.
Organizational conflict can be many and varied the most common causes are the following:
1. Scarcity of resources (finance, equipment, facilities)etc.
2. Different attitude, values or perceptions.
3. Disagreements about needs, goals, priorities and interest
4. Poor communication.
5. Poor or inadequate organizational structure.
6. Lack of team work.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. Does management decision, policy and organizational chart cause conflict among workers in an organization?
2. Does poor motivation and management of personal lead to conflict in an organization?
3. Does the blatant exhibition of personal differences by management in the bid to distribution themselves from organization lead to conflict?
4. Does management of conflict lead to conflict transformation?
5. How does conflict resolution lead to increase in productivity?
6. Is there any relationship between conflict management and conflict transformation?
1.4 HYPOTHESIS:
In order to guide the major activities of this project under study and based on research question, highlighted above, the researcher from the research questions decided to formulate the following research hypothesis.
Ho: that there is a relationship between inappropriate selection of managers with good leadership qualities and conflict in an organization.
H1: there is no relationship between inappropriate selection of managers with good leadership qualities and conflict in an organization.
1.5 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:
The objective of the study are:
1. To identify the nature and characteristics of organizational conflict.
2. To examine the current strategies adopted in managing organizational conflict.
3. To determine the effect of organizational conflict.
4. To reveal the short falls and prospects of the current strategies adopted.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:
A conflict arises when individuals have varied interest opinions and through processes and are just not willing to compromises with each other. It is always wise to adjust to some extent and try to find a solution to the problem rather than cribbing and fighting. Conflicts and disagreements only lead to negativity and things never reach a conclusion. It only adds on to the tensions and spoils your reputation. Every individual should try his level best to avoid conflict at the first place rather than resolving it later. Precautions must be taken at the right time to avoid a conflict.
This research aims at finding the benefits of conflict management, to the organization society, government and academics:
1. Conflict management prevents fall out between organizations society government stress free. Blame game never helps anyone, instead it makes life miserable. No idea can ever be implemented it the individuals fight among themselves.
2. Through conflict management skills an individual explores all the possible reasons to worry which might. Later lead to a big problems and tries to resolve it as soon as possible.
3. Stress disappears, people feel motivated, happy and the world definitely become a much better place to stay as a result of conflict management.
4. Conflict management avoids conflict a great extent and thus also reduce the stress and tension of the employees. No one likes to carry his tensions back home and if you fight with your colleagues and other people, you are bound to feel uncomfortable and restless even at home.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY:
This study is restricted to finding the real causes of conflict in an organization (eduation sector) case study of SIAT limited Rivers state. Its effect on productivity and profitability enhancement. Beside recommending possible ways of managing conflict in an organization, hence actions management can takes to deal directly with conflict in the organization without personnel to mention but a few.
This study does not cover conflict resolution or management outside the corporation world like in a political arena social clubs or gathering communities states or nation as a whole which are other area interact arm or SIAT limited (River State) line would definitely constitute sub-optimality as they are colored by unnecessary bias and prejudice which is not to the benefit of the organization.
1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY:
The researchers in the process of carrying out the research encountered the following constraints.
1. Lack of finance and time and combing it with school work.
2. Non disclosure of required information by the respondents.
3. Error in interpreting and recording answers.
4. Sampling procedure.
5. Non response error
6. Lack of research equipments like computer contributed to slowing down the pace. He pace of the research.
7. Scanty information base.
8. Inadequate statistics
9. Lack of mobility/mobilization of interviewers, inadequate personnel to be interviewed. | ABSTRACT
This research work was aimed at identifying the extent of the use of instructional materials in teaching Social Studies in Nsukka Educational Zone. This work was necessary because the success of any classroom teaching depends more on the extent of the use of teacher resources than verbalization. Three research questions were posited to guide the researcher in the study. These questions are: (1) What instructional media are available for Social Studies Instruction in Nsukka Education Zone? (2) To what extent are instructional materials used in Social Studies Instruction? (3) To what extent are different methods used in Social Studies lesson? Twenty-nine schools were sampled for this study. Instruments for data collection were questionnaire distribution schedule and checklist designed to elicit information from teachers. The data collected were analyzed based on mean scores and percentages. The information collected indicated that most of the resource materials are not available in schools, while some were available in some schools. The available materials were not adequately used. Based on these findings, recommendations were made which include that, teachers should be resourceful and use available teaching materials to make their lessons interesting thereby providing some motivation to the learners. Government should provide some money to schools to purchase the resources that the teachers cannot improvise. The researcher believes that if these recommendations are followed strictly, there would be much improvement in the teaching and learning of Social Studies in Nsukka Education Zone |
| Content | Abstract
This research is on Effects of examination malpractice and its implication to educational development in Niger state college of education, Minna. The study was undertaken to find out the Forms, Causes, Effects, Challenges and the Management of Examination Malpractices in Colleges of Education Minna.in order to raise the status and integrity of the institutions and the certificates issued. The various forms of examination malpractice strategies were captured in order to evolve a new strategy possible for the total eradication of the problem. A total of 80 Students, Lecturers, Examination Officers and Head of Departments were randomly selected. The major findings of this study revealed, that there are different forms of examination malpractices, including new forms of hi-tech exam cheats (MP3 and MP4) being practiced in the Colleges Education. That the causes of cheating are many, popular among them, are an emphasis on the certificate, poor examination paper setting, low salary level of personnel (lecturers, typists, examination officers, etc) and inadequate preparation of students. That, the effects of examination malpractices identified include lack of value of the certificate issued, colleges were embarrassed with examination malpractice, decrease in job efficiency, etc. That, the challenges are the enormous increase in enrolment rate leading to over-crowdedness in the examination rooms due to inadequate facilities, inadequately trained teachers, moral decadence that penetrated the colleges, interference with investigation and punishment of the culprits. In view of the findings, the researcher developed two models, which if carefully and diligently implemented may eradicate Examination Malpractices in Colleges of Education Minna. Finally, suggestions for future studies are presented. | | | CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
This project is on Effects of overpopulation on the academic performance of students in government secondary schools in Owerri municipal council of Imo state. According to the Federal Ministry of Education, as at 2004, the population of Nigeria secondary schools stood at one hundred and eighteen thousand, two hundred (118200) secondary schools while that of Imo state showed a total number of two hundred and five (205). Owerri Municipal council had about seven (7) secondary schools, with a population of Seven thousand, six hundred and fifteen (7615) students. This figure when compared with that of 1999 which was inclusive according to Federal Ministry of Education was very high because during that period, it was so in order to attract Federal Government attention.
The present Nigerian population of secondary schools going by the above number is almost twenty one thousand, eight hundred and twenty eight (21828) secondary schools, with Imo state having three hundred and twelve (312) secondary schools and Owerri Municipal 9 government secondary schools.
According to the statistics department, Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB), there has been a rapid increase in the population of students in Owerri Education zone from seven thousand, six hundred and fifteen (7615) students to ten thousand, five hundred and seventy (10570) students. There is a constant increase in the population of secondary schools which runs contrary to the new encyclopedia Britannica, volume (A) assertion. Unlike population of insects, population rarely has been subject to explosive or collapsing numbers.
Overpopulation refers to a situation where the total number of people in an area exceeds the available resources. Overpopulation can also be defined as deficiency in resources development in relation to the available people Osuji (2008). This means existing resources can not march the immediate population number.
Evidence has shown that the population of students in urban schools is on the increase. The steady areas to enjoy recreational facilities, which keeps them busy after studying is one of the factors that contributes to overpopulation of secondary schools in urban areas.
Under population of secondary school in Nigeria has had a negative impact in the Nigeria educational sector, and the output is devastating in terms of loss of standard and its attendant results.
This situation of over population could be speculated to be speculated to be responsible for the untold hardship, corruption, social disorder, poor standard of living, crime etcetera. In this, there will be lower standard of education, inadequate instructional materials, production of poor or a few quality text books, congested classrooms and attendant education in characters (dropout as a product of the so called schools).
Statement of the Problem
Over the years, there has been an increase in the population of students in urban secondary schools. This has been consistent, without the attendant increase in facilities, teachers and infrastructure, etcetera. With the decline in the quality of education and output, it therefore becomes imperative to find out whether the increase in population of students' directly affect their academic performance and identify the causes of increase in population of students in government secondary schools in Owerri educational zone and what could be done to remedy the situation.
Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of the study is to ascertain the impact of overpopulation on academic performance of government secondary students specifically, the study intends to:
1. Identify the students - teacher ratio in government secondary schools.
2. Identify the causes of increase in students' population in government secondary school.
3. Find out the impact of the increase in students population in government secondary schools on the academic performance of students.
4. Make recommendations on how to curtail increase in students' population.
Significance of the Study
This study will be of immense benefit to students, teachers, educational planners, government and society at large.
For the students, it will motivate and increase their willingness to attend school and help improve their performance in school.
To the teachers, it will help improve abilities of the teacher to manage the classroom efficiently because reduction in the number of students encourages teacher - students' relationship and leads to effective and efficient academic performance.
To the education planners, it will be a guiding material to enable them check the population of students in relation to the available schools to accommodate them.
To the government, it will serve as a guide to identify the need to improve the infrastructure available for teaching and learning.
The study will be of great significance to the society at large as it will help produce qualified citizens that will contribute positively to the growth of the society and it will also serve as a resource and reference material to future students.
Research Questions
For the purpose of carrying out this research, the researchers pose the following questions:
(1) What is the student - teacher ratios in government secondary schools?
(2) What are the causes of increased students' population in government secondary schools?
(3) What are the impacts of the increase in population of students in government secondary schools on the academic performance of the students?
Scope of the Study
This research work is restricted to only government secondary schools in Owerri Municipal Council. The secondary schools are:
- Government secondary school Owerri
- Comprehensive Development secondary school Owerri
- Emmanuel college Owerri
- Government technical college Owerri
- Ikenegbu Girls' secondary school Owerri
- Holy Ghost college Owerri
- Owerri girls' secondary school
- Urban development secondary school Owerri
- Boys' secondary school New Owerri
| | CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
There is no single universal definition of Social Studies because the subject is defined according to the need of each society, which adopts it as a programme of study in schools and colleges. However, the Committee on Primary School Social Studies programme in Nigeria defines Social Studies as those common learning of man?s interaction with his social and physical environment, adding that it is not only a study, but a way of life, of how man influences, and is influenced by his physical, social, political, economic, psychological and cultural environment (Aina, Adeyoyin, Obilo. and Ahmadu, 1982)
Similarly Olaniyan (1998) emphasized that Social Studies is a programme which a society uses to instill in students the knowledge, skills, attitudes and actions it considers important concerning the relationship which human beings have with each other, their world and themselves. Bearing in mind the concept of Social Studies as an integrated discipline, the objectives are clearly stated in the National Policy on Education (FRN, 2004).
The primary concerns of the subject are encouragement of the awareness of the world in the child, inculcation and development of appropriate knowledge, skills, attitudes, values and social activities concerning relationships in people; to enable them find solutions to social problems in their surroundings and to develop positive
attitudes towards our fellow men in society.
Social science as the teaching and learning of individual subjects such as History, Geography, Government, etc. has finally given way to the conception in Social Studies as an integrated subject This came about in fact with the adoption in 1975 of the Integrated Social Studies Syllabuses developed by the National Educational Research Council fortheprimary schools and Teacher Training Colleges throughout the country at the on-set of the Federal Government University Free Primary Education (UPE). Similarly, the Integrated Social Studies Syllabus currently being used in the lower forms of secondary schools in the country as well as the one for the 3-3 Secondary School system of the New Education Policy was prepared by the Comparative Education Study and Adaptation Centre (CESAC), University of Lagos (Ogunsanya, 1984). Social Studies is a subject which deals principally with how human beings interact with one another and with the environment. The Committee on Social Studies singled it out as one major area of study through which national objectives on education in Nigeria can be achieved. Specifically, the Committee spelled out the underlisted objectives for teaching Social Studies in the primary and secondary school levels of the Nigerian education system:
1. To encourage the development of social responsibility towards other children, adult and the world.
2. To encourage the development of values, attitudes, skills and understanding necessary to live and function in society.
3. To create an awareness and an understanding of the evolving social and physical environment as a whole, its natural, man-made, cultural and spiritual resources together with national use and conservation of these resources for development
4. To ensure the acquisition of that relevant knowledge which is an essential prerequisite for personal development, as well as a positive personal contribution to the betterment of mankind.
5. To develop in children a positive attitude to citizenship and a desire to make a personal positive contribution to the creation of a progressive and united Nigeria.
6. To develop in the children the ability to think critically and reflectively and come to an independent conclusion.
7. To promise an understanding of the social problems facing the Nigerian society and a desire to find solutions to them (Ogunsanya, 1984; Obeta, 1996; and Enem, 2002).
The objectives of Social Studies Education in Nigeria, as stated above, show that the subj ect was introduced into the school curriculum to, among other things, get rid of certain social vices plaguing the Nigerian society. Such vices include tribalism, ethnicity, nepotism, political instability, mass poverty, immorality, drug abuse, disrespect for elders and so on. Social Studies also meet the needs of the society in the areas of social and intellectual skills as well as attitudes and values. The subject
is also concerned with acquiring the desirable information in order to be able to achieve meaningful development in all sectors of the economy (Ogunsanya, 1984). The summary of our discussion clearly indicates that Social Studies education is central to nation building. Our leaders and policy-makers need to acquire desirable social and intellectual skills, as well as positive attitudes and values that will enable them to make positive contributions to the process of nation building. They need to appreciate the economic and socio-political diversities of Nigeria, and the need for unity, tolerance and inter-dependence among the various component units of Nigeria.
To achieve the above objectives, the subject must be properly taught in our schools. One major characteristic of good teaching of Social Studies is the ability to inculcate in students a spirit of curiosity and self-instruction (Enem, 2002). A great deal has been discovered about what attracts the interest of children, holds their attention and fosters that natural curiosity. Enem (2002) opined that nothing attracts learners? attention faster than the use of relevant resource materials. For example, bright, contrasting colours seem to stimulate them as well as seize their attention. Similarly, interesting shapes and objects are also very important, especially at the lower levels of our education system.
The use of adequate and relevant resource materials has numerous advantages. For example, it facilitates teaching and learning, and makes learning faster and more permanent. Teachers do not need to expend a great deal of energy or time in giving out much information or much guidance. Rather, he guides the pupils to find out or
discover things on their own. For instance, if a picture of a boy eating a banana is shown to the class and the caption of the picture is: ?This boy is eating his banana?, the teacher could ask his class ?Where do you think the banana came from??. A question such as this forces the pupils to look at the picture critically and study it for contextual clues. Where is the boy standing? (Market, Farm or School?) What has he been doing? What are the commonest ways through which boys obtain banana?
In Social Studies, resource materials encourage the pupils to think critically and reflectively about their lives and their surroundings. This helps to build up the students? self esteem and confidence. In addition, resource materials arouse the students? interest on the subject. We all know that interest motivates learning. Social Studies teachers should make effective utilization of instructional materials in teaching because, they make teaching more meaningful, interesting and more permanent. The extent teachers make use of instructional materials in the teaching of Social Studies is not known. Therefore, the need arises for a determination of the extent teachers use instructional materials in teaching Social Studies at the Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).
Statement of the Problem
Experience shows that many teachers of Social Studies have been teaching for years without using teaching resources and without encouragement by the government. Abdullahi (1982) pointed to poor method of teaching as one of the
major factors that cause the poor performance of students in science subjects. Obi (1992) asserted that teachers have resorted to verbalizing their lessons relying heavily on the use of chalkboard, otherwise called ?talk chalk? method of teaching. Those views are in agreement with Mayer?s (1988) that teaching in the African context continues to be dominated by talk and chalk method. This poor method of teaching could be one of the reasons of underachievement of students in Social Studies.
There have been many researches directed at evaluating the extent of the use of instructional media in teaching Social Studies. For instance, researchers like Onyekwelu (1995), investigated Availability and Use of Media in Teaching History in Secondary Schools in Anam bra State. Angwe and Idogbe (2004) investigated the Availability and Use of Biology Lab Equipment in the Teaching of Biology in Secondary Schools in Vandeiky a L.G. A. of Benue State. Onuoha (1999) investigated on Students? Perception of Television Religious Programmes in Imo State. Eze and Iloh (1999) researched on Resources Used in Teaching Christian Religious Knowledge in the Junior Secondary School at Nsukka Urban. Agu Emeka (1995) investigated the Status of Media in teaching and learning of Economics in Enugu- North L.G.A. Ukachukwu (1998) researched on Effect of Overlay Technique on Secondary School Students? Achievement in Biology. Using good diagrams, Winn (1982) Projected and Non-projected media; Nwizu (1992), Multimedia Approach; Obi (1992), Different Modes of Picture Presentation (Ofoegbu, 1992).
The problem of the study therefore, is the extent of the use of instructional
materials in the teaching of Social Studies in Nsukka Education Zone.
Purpose of the Study
The major purpose of the study is to determine the availability and the extent of use of instructional materials in teaching Social Studies in JSS in Nsukka Education Zone. In order to achieve this major purpose, certain specific investigations will be undertaken. These include:
1. To determine the type of instructional materials available for use in
schools in Nsukka Education Zone in teaching Social Studies.
2. To establish the extent of use of the available instructional materials for Social Studies lessons.
3. To identity methods used in teaching Social Studies in the schools.
Significance of the Study
The findings of this study will be beneficial to the Social Studies teachers in Nsukka Education Zone. It will provide information on the available media which they can use. It will also be beneficial to the curriculum planners. It will help curriculum planners to determin e the type of instructional materials available for use, establish the extent of use and identify methods used in teaching Social Studies in the schools. This is with a view to determining instructional materials to be included in the curriculum of the JSS Social Studies and that of the Teacher Training Colleges.
It may provide the justification for emphasizing the teaching of improvisation to trainee teachers in the Colleges.
The results of the study will provide information on the available modes for Social Studies instruction. This will be very useful to ministries of education and policy makers by providing them with data on the materials that needed to be acquired for effective Social Studies instruction.
The extent of use of these materials will enable the Post Primary School Board to organize workshops, conferences and seminar on the production and use of instructional materials to facilitate the learning of Social Studies.
The results of the study will provide information that may be useful for research in this area.
Scope of the Study
The study is limited to the availability and use of instructional materials in teaching Social Studies in JSS in Nsukka Education Zone. It also includes a determination of the teaching methods teachers adopt in Social Studies instruction.
Research Questions
The following research questions have been formulated to guide the study:
1. What instructional materials are available in schools for Social Studies
instruction in Nsulika Education Zone?
To what extent are instructional materials used in Social Studies instruction?
What different methods are used in Social Studies lessons? |
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