AN ASSESSEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF SOCIAL STUDIES IN JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

ABSTRACT

The study assessed the problems of teaching and learning of social studies in junior secondary school in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. A descriptive research design which involves collection of data through the use of questionnaire was adopted to solicit information. The population of the study is made up of social studies students and teachers in Public and Private Junior Secondary School in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State.

The sample of the study comprised of one hundred (100) students and twenty (20) teachers. Four research questions were used to guide the study, research question one to three was answered using frequency count and percentages to analyze the data collected the reliability stood at 0.65while research question four was hypothesized and answered using t-test. The findings revealed that teachers assess studies in the teaching and learning of social studies in junior secondary school, that lack of interest by students towards learning of social studies is a problem of teaching and learning of social studies students and also lack of school facilities, instructional materials, late payment of teachers’ salary, lack of qualified teachers and lack of timing are some of the problems associated with the teaching of social studies in junior secondary school.

It was recommended that government should ensure that teaching aids as well as qualified teachers are sent to all junior secondary schools and the teachers should try to lay more emphasis on the use of effective motivating methods of teaching social studies. Also, government should ensure that social studies seminars and workshops are organized for social studies teachers through the Ministry of Education in order to keep them abreast with the regular social changes in the society.