AN ASSESSMENT OF PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCE OF TEACHERS WITHOUT ADEQUATE TEACHING AND LEARNING FACILITIES IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The primary purpose of teaching and learning process is to bring a significant change in behavior through active participation and critical thinking of the learner. This cannot take place without the availability of instructional materials (Afework and Asfaw, 2014). Oladejo et al. (2011) referred instructional materials as objects or devices, which help the teacher to make a lesson much clearer to the learner. Instructional materials are also described as concrete or physical objects which provide sound, visual or both to the sense organs during teaching. In this study Instructional materials involve students’ textbooks, teacher’s guides and reference books, maps and globes. These are key ingredients in learning and teaching thus enhance students’ academic achievement (Wiggins, 1998) cited in (Afework and Asfaw, 2014). Instructional materials are very important in the whole process of teaching and learning to any subject. They make learning more pleasant to the students because they offer a reality of experience, which stimulates self-activity and imagination on the part of the students.

They also supply concrete basis for conceptual thinking and hence, reduce meaningless word responses from students (Nyamubi, 2003). Likewise Campbell (1999) agreed that Instructional materials enhance the teaching/learning process by exhibiting information necessary to acquire knowledge and skills. Teaching and learning facilities are things that help teachers to do their work of enhancing learning in a good and acceptable manner and help pupils to acquire knowledge effectively (Lawnson & Gede, 2011:47). Teaching and learning facilities include classrooms, assembly halls, laboratories, workshops, libraries, chairs, tables, dormitories, toilets and kitchen (ibid). Asiabaka (2008) defines teaching and learning facilities as the material resources provided for teachers and pupils to optimize their productivity in the teaching and learning process which consist of buildings, grounds, parking, playing fields, fixed and movable equipment’s, library, ICT facilities, laboratories, classrooms, conference rooms, offices and kitchens. According to Lackney & Picus (2015) teaching and learning facilities consists of physical structure, variety of building systems such as mechanical plumbing, electrical and power, telecommunications, security, fire suppression systems, furnishings, materials and supplies, equipment and information technology, as well as various aspects of the building grounds, namely, athletic fields, playgrounds, areas for outdoor learning, and vehicular access and parking. Adequacy of teaching and learning facilities is essential in the whole process of teaching and learning because it influences effectiveness of the teacher in the classroom and on the general learning environment.

Mosha (2014) acknowledges that the quality of secondary school education cannot be separated from the context and circumstances that are found in schools. A number of secondary schools in Nigeria considered to have shortage of instructional materials (Sumra and Rajani, 2006) are understaed, and some teachers are underqualified and de-motivated (Davidson, 2006; Komba and Nkumbi, 2008). Classrooms are also overcrowded, which aects teaching negatively (Wedgwood, 2007). Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) (2003) in support of this idea points out that, suicient supplies of teaching materials and up to date student textbooks augment the teaching and learning process. Schools with suicient infrastructure, laboratory space, electricity, water supply and sanitary facilities provide a comfortable and heal thy environment conducive to learning. Hakielimu (2008) and Laddunuri (2012) concur with ADEA (2003) that, most of secondary schools hav e an acute shortage of teaching and learning materials such as text books, classrooms as well as laboratory equipments and this is due to insufficient fund received from the Government aimed to carter for the same, hence limiting the improved academic achievement of Secondary Schools in Nigeria. Kimeu et al.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The quality of school buildings may be related to working condition for teachers and ability of teachers to utilize certain instructional approaches properly. Teachers need a conducive environment to be able to teach adequately and effectively. With inadequate teaching and learning facilities education tend to be of low quality due to the fact that teaching and learning won’t be conducted as required. Inadequacy of teaching and learning facilities is one among things which lower the quality of education in Nigeria. Teaching and learning facilities are important in teaching and learning in the school environment but most of secondary schools both private and are operating without adequate school facilities, and sometimes without any facilities, the problem of teaching and learning facilities seem to have a significant influence on the level of satisfaction among teachers, thus their performance, therefore the aim of this research is to assess the performance of teachers without adequate teaching and learning facilities.