AN ASSESSEMENT ON THE CHALLENGES FACED BY HISTORY STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN.

ABSTRACT

The study is an assessment of the challenges faced by History students in the University of Benin. Five research questions were raised to guide the study.

The study adopted descriptive research design and the population of the study was comprises of the 432 History students in the four levels of the Department of History and International Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Benin. The sample size is of Hundred (100) students from the Department of History and Internationals Studied, Faculty of Arts, University of Benin. Respondent would be selected from 100 to 400level using the simple random sampling technique. The research instrument was a questionnaire designed by the researcher herself and it was titled An Assessment on the Challenges Faced by History Students in the University of Benin. Five items were drafted from research question one to three and four items were drafted from research question 4 and five. The questionnaires were validated by the researcher’s project supervisor and two experts from the department of Educational Foundation, Faculty of Education, University of Benin.

The findings reveled that societal misconception of History has deeply affected History students’ confidence as a student of History. They also are affected in their learning and comprehension of History course when the necessary instructional material are not employed and when lecturers are not skillful in navigating teaching method for the different aspect of History. The findings also indicated there the dearth of lecturers in has affected lecturer attendance, teaching method that has major bearing on history students’ performance and teacher-students relationship. More also it was indicated that insecurity pose a major challenge as it has not only disrupt academic activities it has also greatly discourage educational pursuit of History students. Hostel accommodation related challenges also affect history students, not only in their physical health but also their mental and cognitive status. In conclusion the findings had confirmed  that societal misconception, lack of instructional material and effective teaching method, dearth of lecturers, insecurity and hostel accommodation related challenges do constitute a challenge to History students. Thus in ensuring the proper welfare of the History students these challenges should be considered.