ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF ECONOMICS EDUCATION PROGRAMMES FOR THE PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN OREDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the role of economics education programmes for the promotion of sustainable development goals in Oredo local government area of Edo State. In order to achieve the objectives, four research questions were raised from which one hypothesis formulated to guide the study The survey research design of the descriptive technique was adopted for the study. The target population of the study includes all the adult learners across the literacy programmes in Oredo local government area of Edo State with an estimated population figure of one hundred and forty-four (144) adult learners. The sample size of the study was a total seventy-two (72) adult learners. They were selected using the proportionate and the simple random sampling technique. Data for the study were collected through the use of a self-constructed questionnaire titled: Economics Education Programme and Sustainable Development Questionnaire (EEPSDQ). Furthermore, the Questionnaire was designed using four point rating scale of Strongly Agree(SA), Agree(A), Disagree(D), Strongly Disagree(SD) respectively. To determine the validity of the instrument, the researcher adopted the experts’ judgment approach. This process ensured that the instrument measured what it intended to measure. To determine the reliability of the instrument, the Cronbach alpha procedure was adopted. After computation, the instrument produced reliability co-efficient of 0.71. The researcher personally administered the instrument together with some research assistants. In analysing the data, the researcher adopted the descriptive and inferential statistics. The descriptive statistics involved the use of frequency count, simple percentages, mean score and standard deviation using a criterion mean of 2.50 for the decision making. The hypothesis was tested using the Pearson’s r, at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed among others that majority of the adult learners in Oredo local government area are not aware or in the know about sustainable development goals (SDGs) and that they also lacked adequate knowledge of economics; that there are a lot of benefits of economics education programmes to adult learners in Oredo local government area of Edo State. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that economics education programmes plays a significant role in the promotion of sustainable development goals in Oredo local government area of Edo State. The study recommended that awareness campaigns about sustainable development goals (SDGs should be created across the communities in the eighteen local government areas of Edo State as well as the on the need set achievable x timelines for the attainment of such goals; the government should adequately fund adult education programmes especially those that have economics as its major contents. This will go a long way to inculcate adequate knowledge, skills and attitudes for the promotion of sustainable development goals in Oredo local government area of Edo State among others.