FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MASS FAILURE OF STUDENT IN SOCIAL STUDIES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, GGSS SALANTO, KMC LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KANO, NIGERIA
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
The performance of students in Senior Secondary Social Science in Nigeria has remained an issue of concern to all stake holders (Ajagun, 2000). The report by Ojerinde (1998) on the survey of the performance of candidates in Social studies subjects in Nigeria over the years revealed a discernible decline. This perennial decline has remained a source of concern to Social Science educators and Social studies educators (Nnaka and Anaekwe, 2004).
One of the major problems; facing the educational system in Nigeria is the abysmal failure of students in public examinations, Social Science particularly at the secondary level of education. According to Uduh (2009), the high percentage of candidates who failed WASSCE yearly is reflected in the low percentage of the candidates that meets the university admission requirements. The situation is so pathetic that stakeholders keep on wondering why this level of education has persistently failed to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the society. ApSocial Science from the fact that the mass failure of students in public examinations constitutes wastage on investment in secondary education, it puts a big question mark on the quality of secondary education in the country. Each time the results of students in Senior school Certificate Examination (SSCE) are released, it has been a tale of woes and national embarrassment.
Despite the effort put in by government, and various stakeholders of education, Social studies still remained one of the most difficult subject in schools. There is a general impression that Social studies is difficult by its very nature, and because of this impression, there is poor performance among junior secondary school students who are the focus of this study. This poor performance in Social studies has been attributed to two broad factors which include: Hereditary and environmental factors which can be subdivided into students, home, teachers, and school factors (Ola, 1998).
However, students reason that Social studies is highly structured and is so abstract and required special intellectual attitude. Thus; students see the subject as something esoteric. Emenalo (1986) in Nwogu (1990) Social articulated the fact thtae inherent notion held by many Africans that Social studies is a very difficult subject which is capable of making one “mad” is at the centre of the phobia which students exhibits for Social studies and which had claimed many causalities over the years, Nworgu (1990:123), therefore passes the question: “how them would any person in fairness expect our poor and innocent children to be as courageous as to face something which is capable of making even an adult mad? The students would prefer to do something else no matter how difficult rather than to attend Social studies classes.
Most parents do not play a crucial role in preparing their children for school. The child is expected to see the world from the perspective of these archaic values and the goodness of otherwise of his behaviour is judged as such. Opposition from the child arises from what appears to him obsolete and defense of traditionalism by the parents. For example, Whaler (1997) argues that consistent and appropriate parental reactions to the full range of a child’s response repertoire will establish a family context conducive to positive reinforcement of child compliance. In contrast, inconsistent parental reactions appear to create a chaotic family context conducive to the negative reinforcement of child opposition. He argues that based on these two forms of contexts, the parent and children seen to generate distinctive personal rules which outline the functions arrangements of contexts, behavior.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Perhaps not much attention has been given to the performance of students in secondary school Social studies subject in recent years. This neglect, no doubt has relegated this Social studies subject to the background in Secondary School Certificate Examination. A close look at the 2013/2014 SSCE result records, confirms that students’ performance has been very poor generally and the increased number of school dropout in the area of study is a clear pointer of the theme.
According to Okpala (2010), poor performance in Secondary School Certificate Examination (WAEC) is caused by many factors such as; students ineffective study techniques, quality of teachers and method of teaching, the parents inability to provide useful materials like textbooks, exercise books and school fees and problem of inadequate instructional materials for teaching and learning of Social studies in schools. This study therefore is designed to assess the factors associated with mass failure of Social studies in Secondary School Certificate Examination.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The main purpose of this study is to find out the factors associated with mass failure of student in Social studies in Secondary Schools in KMC Local Government, Kano State. Specifically, the study sought to find out if:-
- Insufficient numbers of qualified teachers affects students’ mass failure in Social studies subjects.
- Unavailability of instructional materials for teaching of Social studies subject affects students’ mass failure in Social studies subjects,
- The previous socio-economic backgrounds of the students affect them in studying Social studies subject.
- The attitude and interest of students towards the nature of Social studies subject contribute deeply to their mass failure in SSCE.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
In assessing the purpose of the study, this research project will answer the following questions:
- Does insufficient numbers of qualified Social studies teachers affects students’ mass failure in Social studies subject?
- Does unavailability of instructional materials for teaching of Social studies subject affects students’ mass failure in Social studies subjects?
- Does previous socio-economic background of the students affect them in studying Social studies subject?
- How would interest of students towards the nature of Social studies subject contribute deeply to their mass failure in SSCE?
RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
In carrying out this research work the following theoretical statements are buttressed to serve as a direction on which the work will be premised:
- H0: Insufficient numbers of qualified Social studies teachers does not affects students’ mass failure of students in Social studies subject
H1: Insufficient numbers of qualified Social studies teachers and instructional materials teaching affects Social studies subject.
- H0: There is no significant relationship between availability of instructional materials for teaching of Social studies subject and students’ mass failure in Social studies subjects.
H1: There is significant relationship between availability of instructional materials for teaching of Social studies subject and students’ mass failure in Social studies subjects.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The student will be able to appreciate the importance of the effective domain like interest and motivation in improving their performance. With this awareness, the student might put up a positive attitude towards Social studies subject which will increase their performance and enhance higher grades in Secondary School Certificate Examination.
Teachers will also be able to adjust their teaching methods and offer remedial helps where they find out those students are putting up a low attitude. State Government will also see the need of guidance and counseling in each schools, the ministry of education and curriculum planners for better organization of junior subjects in education.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of the study focused on factors associated with mass failure of student in Social studies in Secondary Schools in KMC, Local Government. The study will be confined to five selected Secondary Schools in Education District II, KMC, Kano.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Education: Education in its general sense is a form of learning in which knowledge, skills, and habits of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through teaching, training or through research.
Failure: A person or thing that proves unsuccessful
Teacher: A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for students.
Education: Education in its general sense is a form of learning in which knowledge, skills,, and habits of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through teaching, training or through research.
Student: A person who is studying at a university or other place of higher education.
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