ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM IN JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

This study is aimed at the Assessment of the Implementation of Social Studies Curriculum in Junior Secondary Schools in Kaduna State. The researcher made use of the survey research design with two hundred and twenty (220) social studies teachers respondents as sample size and questionnaire was used as research instrument. In the data analysis, percentage scores was used in analyzing personal data, while mean and standard deviation was used to answer the research questions. Pearson Product Moment correlation co-efficient (r) was used to test the null hypotheses (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) at 0.05 level of significant. The research findings show that the implementation of social studies curriculum in junior secondary schools is significantly affected by the adequacy of content of social studies curriculum and awareness of teachers. In addition, there is a significant relationship that exists between qualification and experience of teachers involved in the implementation of social studies curriculum in junior secondary schools. Furthermore, it was revealed that significant relationship exists between strategies/methods used and the implementation of social studies curriculum in Junior Secondary Schools. Also, the findings reveal that the implementation of social studies curriculum in junior secondary schools level is significantly affected by availability of instructional materials adequacy. The study also reveals that significant relationship exists between learning environment and its adequacy in social studies and its implementation in junior secondary school level. Also, teachers with high working experience are larger in number compared to teachers with low working experience. Finally, the research work recommended among others that there should be general awareness on the importance of social studies as an agent of positive change in the society; employ qualified and trained social studies teachers to implement the curriculum;send social studies teachers to in-service courses and sponsor them for workshops and seminars. Also, social studies teachers should endeavor to give frequent assignment or homework that will encourage critical and reflective thinking for self-discovery of knowledge and also teachers should be encouraged to engage in comparative learning to improve the implementation of social studies curriculum in junior secondary school level.

Social  Studies  has  social,  political,  economic  and  technological relevance  to

national development. This is because its content is organized around social and environmental issues affecting man‟s existence, and his capability to manage, and preserve the environment for sustainable development (Mezieobi, Akpochafo and Mezieobi, 2010). Following the decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria to use education to empower the people and achieve the objectives of poverty eradication, job creation and wealth generation, it becomes imperative that the conventional methods of teaching social studies where are passive need be changed (Onuoha, 2011).

Vision 2010 is indeed an ambitious programme. It is a political proclamation of the Nigerian Government. The expectation is that by the year 2020, Nigeria will be counted among the top twenty (20) economies of the world alongside America, Japan, Russia and other super power of the world (Igbokwe, 2010). But to the researcher‟s view, how is the educational policy and its curriculum of social studies working towards achieving this vision of Nigeria becoming the top twenty (20) the world economies. Achieving the objectives of vision 20:2020 in JSS in Nigeria can only be realized through qualitative social studies instruction that is highly directed at radical socio-economic, political and scientific transformation of the nation. The innovation should aim at functional manpower who are imbued with positive values, attitudes and skills, which can further contribute to the development of Nigeria‟s economy, resource management and reconstruction of its physical environment to facilitate sustainable development, which is ideal for harmonious social living, interdependence and pace.