INFLUENCE OF PERSONALITY TRAITS ON THE TEACHING COMPETENCIES OF BUSINESS STUDIES TEACHERS IN JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN EDO STATE

ABSTRACT
The study is on influence of personality traits on the teaching competencies of business studies teachers in junior secondary schools in Edo State. The study specifically covered the relationship between personality traits (openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism) and teaching competencies of business studies teachers in junior secondary schools in Edo State. Correlational survey research was the design adopted for the study. The population of the study consisted of thirty-four (34) business studies teachers in sixty seven (67) public junior secondary schools in Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State. The sample comprises of the entire population. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire with a 5-point Likert Scale ranging from Strongly Disagree-1 point, Disagree -2 points, Undecided - 3 points, Agree -4 points, Strongly Agree -5 points To determine the validity of the instrument, the instrument was given to the researcher’s supervisor and two other experts in the department of Vocational and Technical Education, Faculty of Education, university of Benin. Cronbach Alpha formular was used to determine the reliability of the instrument and it yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.82. Based on the findings it can be concluded that the relationship between openness to experience and teaching competencies is high, the relationship between conscientiousness of the business studies teachers’ and teaching competencies is moderate, the relationship between extraverted business studies teachers’ and teaching competencies is low, the relationship between agreeableness of the business studies teachers’ and teaching competencies is moderate and the relationship between business studies teachers’ neuroticism and teaching competencies is moderate. It was recommended that government should establish educational programs where skills in interpersonal relationship and communication can be taught so that people can be successful both at home and in the workplace as they exhibit interpersonal and social skills, courteousness, respectful communication and networking skills.