TEACHERS CHARACTERISTICS ON THE TEACHING OF GOVERNMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

TEACHERS CHARACTERISTICS ON THE TEACHING OF GOVERNMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the Study

Education is widely regarded as a basic human right, a key to enlightenment, and a source of wealth and power (Mugenda 2019). Education is critical to industrial and technological development with the history of developed nations bearing records of this; developing nations aspiring to realize the same status have to put a premium on education as regard to teacher characteristics UNESCO (1986). Indicates that knowledge holds key to the attainment of the millennium development goals, which include, food, security, eradication of child mortality and reduction of the spread of HIV and AIDS among other. Ali (2019) observes that there was statistically signification relationship between teacher characteristics in teaching and students academic achievement.

Adeyemo (2005) notes that teacher characteristics influenced teaching and learning in classrooms. Olaleye (2011) establishes that there was relationship between teachers’ characteristics and pupils’ performances in schools.

Gravestock and Gregor-Greenleaf (2008) state that the explanations for good or poor students academic performance has a controversy exist among scholars as to what contribute singly or jointly to students poor performance in schools.

Furthermore, Akinsolu (2010) asserts that availability of qualified teacher determined the performance of students in school. Coonen (1987) emphasizes that teacher involved in in-service training were more effective in classrooms as compared to teachers who had not undergone training.

Wirths and Perkins (2013) observed that students’ attitude was related to teacher characteristics. This therefore means that teacher’s attitude directly affects students attitude. On teacher personality, Adu and Olatundun (2007) contend that teacher’s characteristics were strong determinants of students’ performance in secondary school.

Scholars and researchers generally are in agreement that the school variable which include teacher administration, perform a critical role in educational achievement than other variable (Patrick, 2015). The important role of the teacher learning is unquestionable. Teachers have a lot of influence on their classroom practice. Teachers have a lot of influence on their classroom practice. Teachers should have and apply specific abilities without which the influence may not be reflected in their students’ performance in subject.

For students to be able to make connection between what is taught in school and its application in problem solving in real life, the teacher have to be effective in their teaching techniques. There has been no consensus on the importance of specific teaching method leading to the common connection that the existing empirical evidence does not find a strong role for teacher in the determination of academic achievement of students this in any academic discipline in teaching government. This study there sought to investigate the influence of teacher characteristics in influencing students’ performance in school.

 

TEACHERS CHARACTERISTICS ON THE TEACHING OF GOVERNMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

1.2     State of the Problem

          This study is projecting on various events in the Nigeria secondary schools that occurred almost yearly. Event that occur such as the rate of students failure and dropout rates are increasing at senior secondary school, stakeholders blame students examination who are not ready to learn  as one of the causes of their failure. Besides this, teacher and students need to be blame because it is caused by them, lack of dedication to their work will affect the academic performance of students. Whoever is to blame in this case? The general view expressed in the case that teacher quality is a resource and a great educational asset (Ayodele, 2014). Adeogun (2011) finds that the quality of the education system depends on the quality of teachers and a school without these resources it is impossible to achieve the goals and objectives of the education system.

          Adesina (1980) also reveals that teachers are the primary indicator and determinant of the quality of education. It is against this background that the research seeks to address the question “could this be as the result of poor mastery of the subject matter by teachers’ qualification, and teacher experience in teaching.

1.3     Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the teacher characteristics that could serve as motivation factor or otherwise in their ability to teach government in secondary schools.

Specific interest to this study are:

1. To determine teachers experience as the aid to the teaching of government in secondary school.
2. To find out teacher mastery of the subject matter in teaching of government in secondary school.
3. To examine teacher’s attitude in classroom on students academic achievement in teaching of government in secondary school.

 

TEACHERS CHARACTERISTICS ON THE TEACHING OF GOVERNMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

1.4     Research Questions

Based on this concern, the study tried to address these research questions.

1. Does teacher’s qualification have effect in their ability to teach government in secondary school?
2. Does teachers’ years of experience have effect on students academic achievement to teach in secondary school?
3. Does teachers’ mastery of subject matter have effect on students’ academic achievement?

1.5     Significance of the Study

Findings of this work will be useful to the teachers, government, school administrators and individual(s) as well as being useful for researchers on further studies.

1.6     Limitation of the Study

This research is restricted to the teacher characteristics and academic performance of students in government. Due to shortage of time and findings, together with poor cooperation of the respondents attitude, only selected senior secondary school within Nsit Ubium Local Government Area are sampled.

 

TEACHERS CHARACTERISTICS ON THE TEACHING OF GOVERNMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

1.7     Definition of Terms

For easy understanding of this work, the following terms associated with this project are defined.

1. Government: Is a group of people elected by the community to make decision on behalf of the people in the community interest.
2. Teaching: Refers to the process of imparting knowledge and skill from a teacher to a learner. it encompasses the activities of educating or instructing.
3. Characteristics: This can be seen as the typical feature or quality that somebody has including the teachers in schools on their profession to impart knowledge to the students.
4. Local Government: This is an organization that is responsible for the government of a local area and for providing service to people within the territory.