STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS
ABSTRACT
This research was carried out to find
out the strategies for improving the teaching and learning of agricultural
science in secondary schools in Ijero local government area of Ekiti State. The population for the study was 30
agricultural science teachers in twenty – five randomly selected secondary
schools. The instrument used for data
collection was questionnaire. The result
of the study showed that the strategies for teaching and learning of
agricultural science include (i) Encouraging the students to learn agricultural
science (ii) Teacher should be well competent (iii) Classroom instruction
should be based on class teaching content (iv) Students should be provided with
adequate text books (v) Students should be actively involved during teaching
and learning processes (vi) Take home assignments should be given to students
regularly (vii) School authorities should provide adequate facilities for the
agricultural science teachers. (viii) Government should provide all necessary
facilities for schools (ix) Teachers salaries should be paid as at when due (x)
Communities should provide land for agricultural science.
From the findings, the following
recommendations are hereby made that government and school authorities should
ensure the proper financing of teaching and learning of agriculture in the
secondary schools. Experienced teachers
should be allowed to handle teaching and learning of agriculture in the
schools.
FOR COMPLETE PROJECT CALL 07064961036
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page
Approval page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgment
Abstract
Table of contents
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
Background of the study
Statement of Problems
Purpose of the study
Significance of the study
Research question
Assumption of the study
Delimitation of the study
Limitation of the study
Definition of the term
CHAPTER TWO
Review of Literature
CHAPTER THREE
Research Methodology
Area of study
Population
Sample of the study
Instrument for data collection
Instrument validation
Data collection
Data analysis
Decision rule
CHAPTER FOUR
Presentation and Analysis of Data
Findings
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATION
Summary
Description of the procedure used
Conclusion
Recommendation
Suggestion for further research
REFERENCES
QUESTIONNAIRE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
The term agriculture is derived from
the Latin word “ages” meaning field and “culture” meaning cultivation. However, the term agriculture refers to the
art and science of cultivating useful plants, rearing of animals and
maintenance of tree for human and industrial consumption.
This definition shares complexities
which involve some specific and unique technicalities. In view of this, the teaching and learning of
agriculture should not be limited to theory alone but also agriculture has
played and will continue to play vital role in the Nigeria economy.
Agriculture is the most important
occupation in the country as it provides job for over 70% of the populace,
foreign exchange earner, food production, raw materials for the industries
among others.
Apparently, food production is now
insufficient to meet the growing demands of increasing population and the need
for the growing unemployment rate to at least be reduced if not eradicated
became fundamental problems, which led to the recommendation and inclusion of
agriculture in the curriculum of the secondary school and the establishment of
colleges, universities of agriculture and faculties of agriculture consequently,
students graduate from schools without acquiring necessary skills in
agriculture. The reflection of this is
evident in their in – competence and failure in the public examination. In view of this, it is necessary to determine
the means that will be useful in improving the teaching and learning of
agriculture in secondary schools with a view of providing lasting remedy to its
attendant problem.
Statement of Problems
Agriculture is one of the subjects
introduced into the secondary school curriculum, which each pupils must offer
as a core subject at secondary school level throughout the nation.
Teachers are being trained by the
government to handle the subject at secondary school levels. Yet, there are still, some problems, which
the teachers face in teaching this subject at a secondary school level. This study is designed to focus on the
problems facing the teachers in the teaching of agricultural science in
secondary school.
Purpose of the study
The main purpose of the study is to
identify the strategies for improving the teaching and learning of agriculture in
secondary schools.
Specifically the study shall seek to:
1)
Determine
problems involving method used by teacher in teaching and learning agricultural
science in secondary schools.
2)
Identify
the strategies for improving the teaching and learning of agriculture in
secondary schools by the teacher.
3)
Determine
ways of solving the problems identified in teaching agricultural science in
secondary schools.
Significance of the study
Agriculture has been made a core
subject in the primary school curriculum.
This is the secondary aim of training present and prospective farmers
for proficiency in farming. Also to
reverse the lack of interest show by many young ones and their preference for
the white collar jobs, which have made agriculture to be left in the hands of
the aged people.
Hopefully, the finding of the study
will provide information and the data that would assist curriculum planners,
decision makers as well as other bodies associated with agricultural programme
in schools. This will help in
harmonizing the course content of agriculture in the secondary schools and
giving balance attention to both theoretical and practical aspect of
agriculture.
Such finding could serve as a spring
board for the improvement of agricultural programmes at the secondary school
level and in motivating pupils in choosing agriculture as career.
Research Question
This
study has the following research questions:
1)
What
are the strategies for improving the teaching and learning of agriculture in
secondary schools?
2)
What are the factors that affect the teaching
and learning of agricultural science and effectiveness in secondary schools?
3)
What
are the areas of agricultural science curriculum or syllabus that teacher find
difficult to teach?
4)
What
are the teaching techniques adopted in the teaching of agricultural science?
5)
What
are the ways of solving the identified problems the teachers face in teaching
agricultural science in primary schools.
Assumption of the study
The
following assumptions are made in designing this study:
1)
Teachers
teaching agricultural science in secondary schools have varied forms of
teaching background.
2)
It
is assumed that all the secondary schools have some facilities for the teaching
and learning of agricultural science.
3)
It
is assumed that all the secondary schools have agricultural science teachers.
4)
It
is assumed that agricultural science teachers in the secondary schools will
give adequate response to the questionnaire.
Delimitation of the study
The
study focuses on the strategies for improving the teaching of agriculture in
secondary schools in Ijero local government area of Ekiti State.
Limitation of the study
The
study was limited to thirty agricultural science teacher in all the 25
secondary schools in the 3 senatorial districts of Ekiti State,
which was selected. This resulted in
time consumption during administration, collection of questionnaire, data
presentation and analysis.
Definition of the Term
Research: It
is the investigation data in order to discover new facts.
Sample: It is
the proportion of the population selected for observation with a view to making
inference about the population.
Respondents:
These are the people that respond or give answers to research questionnaire.
Population: It
is any people of individual that have one characteristic in common that are of
interest to the research.
Vocational Education: This is the type of education that leads to the acquisition of
practical and applied skills.
Facilities:
These are materials or aids, which make learning or doing things easily.
Instructional Materials: These are used to refer to all kinds of material that are
used to achieved educational goals.
