Problems Of Teaching Social Studies In Secondary School

Problems Of Teaching Social Studies In Secondary School

Abstract

This study focused on the problems of teaching social studies in secondary schools in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State. The objective of this study was to determine the problems of teaching social studies in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu, four research questions was formulated to guide the study. The population of the study was sampled and two hundred (200) respondents was selected in the secondary schools in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu.

The instrument used for data collection was questionnaire, it was presented in tabular form. The findings revealed that there are inadequacy of qualified social studies teachers. The finding also was that assess to the problem caused by insufficient of teaching materials for effective teaching and learning of social studies, it constitute subject problems that determine if teachers educator are using technology to reform the educational system. Based on the findings, recommendation and suggestion for further study were made and conclusion was subsequently drawn on the research topic.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background Of The Study

Social studies, is a programme of instruction or study which a society uses in still in the students or pupils the ideas, knowledge’s, skills attitudes and actions , it considers important concerning the relationship and thing we have with each other. This is a dynamic body of knowledge in a discipline which deals with the study of man and his interaction with his physical and social environment, it deals with how man influence and is influence by his physical, social, political, economic and psychological and cultural environments. The teaching of social studies in Nigeria secondary schools has a short but an important history in the school curriculum.

Social studies is not only a study but also a way of life which integrated study of the social science and humanities to promote civic competence. There are field of scholarship that study society, is also a peer reviewed Journal that publishers articles of interest to educators at all levels. Through the proper development implementation and utilization of the knowledge that social studies could provide about society of the best of society, the right environment could be created for development of the right laws ethics and values for the society in a way for superior to what could be obtained was application of any knowledge attainable for any one its component subject parts.

According to Jiboku (1993) that social studies is that aspect of learning which deals with how to get along with one’s environment, physical as well as human and how to develop those skills knowledge, attitudes and values that characterized a responsive and responsible citizen in a free world and free society. Teaching of social studies is a new phenomenon in most of Nigerian secondary schools, it was formally called general knowledge up to 1976, this development created various problems for the teachers, the nature of the subject as a covering term, making its precise, definition, selection of appropriate objective, content and methodology. Social studies as a tool aims at helping young people to solve a lot of problem, if carefully planned and implemented, for example in united states and Canada, social studies has its primary objective that is the preparation of pupils for effective citizenship in a democratic society.

The prospects of study social studies cannot be over emphasized based on the fact that is a single integrated subject, only recently the Nigerian institution of learning right from the secondary to the tertiary level and it is currently gaining a nation wide acceptance. The planning and organization rested mainly in the lands of experts and specialists within the social science discipline, drawn from the universities and who are largely out of touch and reach with the schools. As in the case of new subject, those who teach it are confused, many are on the problems bound to arise for instance, the problem of dealing with a new subject which is quite different but has emerged from other well established ones, the problem of lack of a clear out definition, the problem of lack of a definition majority of the present teachers who can teach the subject are unfamiliar with the result that they continue to teach the old concept and ideas under the new subject heading social studies. All these and other constitute problems in teaching social studies.

The finder or the researcher sincerely hopes that social studies pupils or student has build up for themselves their initiative, originalities and judgment to become intelligent and use social.

1.2 Statement Of The Problem

Social studies education in secondary school has been facing many problems, despite the indispensable contribution of the discipline, it has been observed that this subject is confronted with a lot of problems in Awgu Local Government area. Since the main issue in Nigeria is how should we be united, many researcher had come up with the opinion the significance of social studies to Nigeria can be appreciated when we look back to the experience of the two and half years civil war taught all Nigerians the lesson of age long adage which says united we stand, divided we fall unity for strength learnt from the war, it has been translated into all aspect of our life political educational, physical and economical etc.

Mostly due to insufficient qualified social studies teachers, lack the materials for teaching social studies subjects, the nature scope and lack of clear definition of the subject and lack of knowledge of the method of teaching the subject, in the present day Nigeria, a lot of problem had come in between social studies and social subjects, which are physics chemistry because of the importance of science and technology, it make some schools to pay less attention to social studies in the secondary and tertiary level of study, the problem of teaching social studies in secondary school in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu state would be carefully pay attention studies in this work.

1.3 Purpose Of The Study

The main purpose of this study is to study the problems of teaching social studies in secondary schools in Awgu Local Government Area.

Specifically, there are:

1. To find how could instructional material can be include in the teaching of social studies in secondary schools.
2. To find the problems involved in teaching of social studies in secondary schools.
3. To suggest appropriate solutions to any of the problems in teaching social studies in secondary schools.
4. To find out the prospect of teaching and learning social studies in secondary schools.

1.4 Significance Of The Study

This research is of significance to the domain social studies education and as well throw more light on appropriate methodology and choice of instructional material. These aims and objectives however cannot be achieved if there are no sufficient and effective means of running these subjects into our Nigerian institution of learning.

The finding of the study would help to expose the problems and betters ways of teaching social studies, the introduction of social studies subject in Nigerian school curriculum is not without aims and objectives. The rational behind this introduction is to meet the state and nation man power needs.

1.5 Scope Of The Study

This present an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of these different approaches in Awgu Local Government Areas and specifically centered extensively on (16) sixteen secondary schools found in the area. The general aim of the study was to choose, develop and experiment with some evaluation method. It also identifies the consequences and some possible solution to the problems as well as using non-formal educational programme to meet up the needs of the students.

1.6 Research Questions

The following research questions were formulated to guide the study.

1. Are there enough social studies materials like, textbook, maps, globes in secondary schools in Awgu Local Government Area?
2. What are the problems of teaching social studies in secondary schools in Awgu Local Government Area?
3. What are the solution of the problems of teaching social studies in secondary schools in Awgu Local Government Area?
4. What are prospect of teaching and learning social studies in secondary schools in Awgu Local Government Area?

Chapter Five

Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Discussion of Findings

Analysis conducted in chapter four of this study indicated in table 4.2 on the question “Are there enough social studies materials like, textbook, maps, globes in secondary schools in Awgu Local Government Area? Since all the 220 respondents constituting 100% said no to the question and there was no record of no and undecided, this is an indication that inadequate social studies material poses problems in teaching social studies in Awgu local Government Area.

In table 4.3 analysis, all the 220 respondents constituting 100% said yes to the options given and it shows that Lack of training in process skills, Avoidance of controversial issues, Limited shallow textbook content and Incompetence of teachers are the problems of teaching social studies in Awgu local Government Area.

In table 4.4 analysis, all the 220 respondents constituting 100% said yesto the options given and it shows that Professional training, None Avoidance of controversial issues Provision of instructional materials and textbook content are the solutions towards the problems of teaching social studies in Awgu local Government Area.
Also, the analysis in table 4.5, From the responses obtained, 60 respondents constituting 30% said very high. 160 respondents constituting 70% said high. There was no record for undecided. and it shows that there a profound prospect of teaching and learning social studies in Awgu Local Government Area.

5.2 Summary of findings

In this study, our focus was to examine the problems of teaching social studies in secondary schools in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State. The study specifically was aimed at ascertaining if there are enough social studies materials like, textbook, maps, globes in secondary schools in Awgu Local Government Area, also to identify other factors (or problems) of teaching Social Studies and the possible solutions. More also, the examine the prospect of teaching and learning social studies in Awgu Local Government Area.

The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 220 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are active workers in the 3 selected Schools in Awgu LGA.

The findings revealed that infrastructural facilities and instructional materials need to be further developed to meet the needs of the curriculum in fostering easy teaching and learning of social studies.

For effective teaching of Social Studies, it would be beneficial if it is taught by Social Studies specialist teachers and that non-specialist teachers from other disciplines (geography, history, sociology, economics, political science, anthropology etc.) receive professional development and training in the subject. However, there is need for regular in-service training for Social Studies teachers (specialist teachers and non-specialist teachers), which must be designed to address new developments in current social issues and recommend ways of integrating those issues into the curriculum.

Teachers of Social Studies should adopt a scaffold approach to learning where learning is made relevant to the lived experience of students

5.3 Conclusion

it could be inferred from the discussion that the scope of Social Studies is unlimited. It is in this light that Leming & Ellington describe the scope of Social Studies as “boundless, eschewing substantive content and lacking focus for effective practice” [16]. This confirms that the concepts, principles, generalizations are organised and taught as an integrated knowledge. The integration nature of the subject helps individuals to solve their personal problems as well as problems of the society they live in.

It was revealed from the literature that the factors that affects teaching and learning of social studies concepts are the competence of teachers, lack of meaning of concepts, lack of training in process skills, avoidance of controversial issues and limited shallow textbook content. This confirms what Mensah & Frimpong claimed in their research work. It was further revealed that one thing students looked for is assistance from their teachers in developing their skills of learning. Tutorials and group discussions contribute to a sense of achievement and increase motivation.

For effective teaching of Social Studies, it would be beneficial if it is taught by Social Studies specialist teachers and that non-specialist teachers from other disciplines (geography, history, sociology, economics, political science, anthropology etc.) receive professional development and training in the subject.

However, there is need for regular in-service training for Social Studies teachers(specialist teachers and non-specialist teachers), which must be designed to address new developments in current social issues and recommend ways of integrating those issues into the curriculum, and also how to deliver it. Infrastructural facilities and instructional materials need to be further developed to meet the needs of the curriculum in fostering national unity without necessarily impacting upon diversity. Resources are needed that don’t seek to maketribal, linguistic, cultural diversity vanish.

Teachers of Social Studies should adopt a scaffold approach to learning where learning is made relevant to the lived experience of students

5.4 Recommendations

From the key reviews made and conclusions drawn, the following recommendations are made by the researcher;
Students’ attitude towards Social Studies can be improved by providing competent teachers for the subject, teachers being interested in teaching controversial issues, teachers employing different teaching methodologies, teachers being readily available to give students the needed assistance in Social Studies, adequate provision of teaching and learning materials and teachers engaging the services of resource persons in areas of difficulty.

Teachers of Social Studies should employ different methodologies in in teaching the subject.

Lastly, the researcher recommends that the various pedagogical methods listed in this paper should be well-combined and use to improve the attitude of students towards the learning of Social Studies.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why has the teaching of Social Studies not been properly done?

The teaching of social studies has not been properly done because most of the teachers handling the subject has little or no sound knowledge concerning the subject. This also posed problems for the studies in terms of learning the subject.

What are the challenges of teaching social studies in junior secondary schools?

In-adequate supply and utilization of instructional materials including textbooks which can increase teachers/students awareness and reinforce learning is an obstacle to the teaching of social studies in Junior Secondary Schools. According to Akinlaja (1978) “There is general shortage of books in some schools subjects.

Is every teacher a social studies teacher?

Finally the researcher wish to suggest that the federal and state government along with their educational agencies should support the teaching and learning of social studies for all junior secondary schools. In conclusion, this study has pointed out that not every teacher is a social studies teacher.

Should the government introduce social studies in junior secondary schools?

The government should equipped all Junior secondary school libraries with sufficient and relevant textbooks in social studies. Social studies should be introduce in senior secondary schools like the traditional subject to serve as a motivating factor to those in JSS.