The Problem Mitigating Against Good Teaching and Learning of Social Studies in Some Selected Primary Schools in Langtang North LGA of Plateau State
CHAPTER ONE
Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to examine the problem mitigating against good teaching and learning of social studies in some selected primary schools in Langtang North LGA of Plateau State. Specifically, there are:
- To find how could instructional material can be include in the teaching of social studies in primary schools.
- To find the problems involved in teaching of social studies in primary schools.
- To suggest appropriate solutions to any of the problems in teaching and learning social studies in primary schools.
- To find out the prospect of teaching and learning social studies in primary schools.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This is discussed under the following sub-heading to help us understand this chapter.
- Theoretical framework of social studies
- The concept of social studies
- Objective of social studies
- Development of social studies in Nigeria
- Importance of social studies
- Lack of clear concept of the nature scope of social studies
- Summary of Review Literature.
Theoretical Framework of Social Studies
One more reason for studying social studies is strongly stressed by the fact that all healthy children are naturally curious. The impressive capacity for wondering when allowed to flow systematically in study of social studies helps to channel the learning awareness of the philosophic fundamental of the environmental mental existence. We cannot talk seriously on modern education or the theoretical framework of social studies for people and student without mentioning a man called John Dewey, John Dewey was American philosopher educator and social critic, when he encounter with new England way of life and dialogued with British democracy, he turned out to be the out spoken.
John Dewey was most influential encounter reform and creative education, from the same vein of the theoretical framework we must advert that his modesty for uprightness, doggedness, deep faith in the working of the democratic process and respect for his fellow man are evidenced in almost everything he did or wrote, he stand as the a good instance of the educability of man, he maintained that the changing concept of social studies with the already changed condition of children led to an understanding of children philosophical propensities of social development. Let point out that any pupils or student who had not done well in social studies education has lost the unique avenue for the most normal way to comprehend the richness and complexity of the world around.
A critical study of the theoretical framework of social studies will manifest the concentration on the day to day ordinary experiences that give rise to the rich philosophical ideas of pragmatism existentialism, phenomenologism which have made great goal in the world to expose our students to social problem and the method of handling day to day social problem, harmonizing the good and the beautiful and developing self propelled, dynamic critical and creative spirit that will come to see that the family, society, community, norms, cultures and traditional are both educable and malleable.
Theories are formulated to explain, predict, and understand phenomena in many cases to challenge and extend existing knowledge within the limit of the critical bounding assumptions. The theoretical framework is the structure that can hold to support a theory of a research study, it introduces and describe the theory which explains way the research problem under the study exist by virtue of its application nature good theory in the social studies is of value precisely because it fulfills one primary purpose to act in more informed and effective ways.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHOD
This chapter discussed the method employed by the researcher in carrying out the study according to the following sub-heading:
- Design of the Study
- Area of the Study
- Population of the Study
- Sample and sampling Technique
- Instrument for data collection
- Validation of the instrument
- Method of Data Collection
- Method of Data Analysis
Design of the Study
The researcher adopts survey method to find out the problem mitigating against good teaching and learning of social studies in some selected primary schools in Langtang North LGA of Plateau State. The research is a descriptive research, the researcher administrated the instrument of the study on the selected subjects of the study from where the conclusion of the study where made.
Area of the Study
Langtang North was a local government council created in 1991from Langtang LGA. Langtang North was bounded in the north by Kanam LGA at a bearing of 90 30’; in the east, at 100 00’ by Wase LGA; Langtang South in the southern part at 80 30’ and in the western part it was bounded by Mikang and Pankshin at 90 30’ respectively. The area has an area of 1,188 km² and a population of 140,643 at the 2006 census.
Population of the Study
The population of the study comprises all the teachers which are 160 in numbers and the student which are 800 in numbers. The total numbers of the Primary schools in this Langtang North Local Government Area were two hundred and four (204).
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS
This chapter discussed and deals with the data analysis and data presentation of result, it is presented in a table form. The research question are presented in each of the question item.
RESEARCH QUESTION ONE
Are there enough social studies material like, textbook, ruler for pointer, taking student for field trip and school library in primary school in Langtang North Local Government Area?
Respondent to questionnaire item 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 with a mean score of 3.0, 2.9, 2.7, 3.5 and 3.1 respectively agreed that there should be enough social studies materials and item 4 with a mean score of 3.5 point that the increase in the performance of social studies student will reduce the problem of teaching and learning social studies.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter deals with the following:
- Discussion of finding
- Educational implication of the study
- Recommendations
- Limitation of the study
- Summary for further studies
- Conclusion
Discussion of the Finding
This study succeeded in documenting valuable information concerning the problem mitigating against good teaching and learning of social studies in some selected primary schools in Langtang North LGA of Plateau State. It also succeeded in brining out problem and finding solution to them, it hoped that this study will indoctrinate the minds of these who are particularly interested in the subjects. Generally from the research and the investigation made through the students and teacher questionnaire, it has been discovered that most the primary schools in Langtang North Local Government Area lack appropriate teaching materials like textbook, ruler for pointer, field trip etc.
It is not encouraging that a subject like social studies that plays an important role in the community development should be taught with inappropriate teaching materials. In the five schools sample, majority of them agreed that lack of learning materials constitute to the problem of teaching and learning social studies subject. From the finding it has been also discovered that the methods used by the teachers in teaching the subject in schools were inadequate, for example in some schools sampled, some teachers use mainly lecture method in teaching the pupils neglecting the discussion method and role play method that will make them to understand it better and practically the subject. However, it is clear that teaching of social studies has many problems but it is good to point out that these problems are not insurmountable.
Educational Implication of the Study
The educational implication is to find out if there are inadequacy of qualified social studies teacher in primary school in Langtang North Local Government Area. The purpose was to determine of teacher educator are using technology to reform the student. To assess the problem caused by insufficient teaching materials for effective teaching and learning social studies and to suggest various way of solving those problems by the educators.
Recommendation
This project was provided that there are problems of teaching and learning social studies in primary schools. Based on the assumption and the topic I recommended for the improvement on the following.
- Social studies should be made compulsory subject at all level of education in Nigeria.
- Lectures and teachers of the subject should endeavor to advertise the study in the television and emphasis it important to enable those who have no or little knowledge of the subject to know why it is necessary that the subject should be made mandatory at all levels of education in the country.
- Teachers of the subject should be properly mined in this field of study and further be made integer constant refresher course and seminars to up date their knowledge of the study.
- Ministry of education and government should look into social studies curriculum and provide more teaching material for the teacher and the learners.
- Parent and guidance should encourage their children on the importance of studying of social studies.
Limitation of the Study
This project was limited to five schools out of two hundred and four primary schools as estimated by the researcher in Langtang North Local Government Area. These five schools are listed below.
- Central pilot school Langtang North
- LGEA Primary school Bobo
- Child firendly initiative Magama central
- Area one primary school Mabudi
- LGEA Primary school Zamchan
The researcher limitation of the study was basically on these five listed schools to know the problem of teaching and learning social studies in primary schools and how to over come the problem or weaknesses.
Suggestion for Further Studies
This study is on the problem of teaching and learning social studies in Langtang North Local Government Area. To carry out the research the study was broken in to five chapters. In chapter one new have background of the study, statement of the problem, purpose of the study, significance of the study, scope of the study and research question all these are posed to examine the problems of teaching and learning social studies in primary schools in Langtang North Local Government Area. The research question include:
- Are there enough social studies materials like textbook, ruler for pointer, taking student for field trip and school library in primary schools in Langtang North Local Government Area?
- What are the problem of teaching and learning social studies in primary schools in Langtang North Local Government Area?
- What are the solution of the problems of teaching and learning social studies in primary schools in Langtang North Local Government Area?
- What are the prospect of teaching and learning social studies in primary schools in Langtang North Local Government Area?
In extensive review of literature in chapter two provided with the theoretical framework of social studies, concept of social studies, objective of social studies, development of social studies in Nigerian, importance of social studies, lack of clear concept of the nature scope of social studies and finally the summary of review literature which provided information that helped in building of the review of related literature. In chapter three treated the design of the study, area of the study, population of the study, sample and sampling technique, instrument for data collection, validation of the instrument, method of data collection and method analysis. For the sample and sampling techniques two hundred persons were used which includes both students and teachers and five primary schools were used in Langtang North Local Government Area. In chapter four deals with data analysis and data presentation of result, it is presented in a table form and the research question are presented in each of the question item.
Finally the chapter five which contain the discussion of the finding, educational implication of the study, recommendations, limitation of the study, suggestion for further studies and conclusion which point that social studies teachers should establish an organization that will coordinate the teachers.
Conclusion
The entire project is here to prove one things that social studies has a problem in teaching and learning in the primary schools, a comprehensive study of the project shows actually that at all levels of education social studies is vital. The introduction of the subject has been defined through different authors. But in general is known as a programme of instruction which a society uses it deals, knowledge, skill attitude and action it consider important concerning the relationship and things we have with each others. Therefore it indicate unequivocally that the introduction of social studies in to the educational curriculum of school in the country were ideas.
The study has brought most of the problem affecting the teaching of social studies, some of these problem are lack of relevant instructional material and it is clear that with good planning, hard work that is combined effects of all, a lot will be achieved in solving the problems and social studies teachers should establish organization that will coordinate the teachers.
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