IMPACT OF TEACHER QUALITY ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SOCIAL

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1         Background to the Study

Teaching is made up of several components of different dimensions such as the teacher, the students, the curriculum, the teaching method and instructional materials. Therefore, teacher qualities are the different components involved in the teaching and learning of social studies; importance of learning social studies.

With the above definition therefore, this study intends to investigate the impact of teacher qualities on the academic performance of junior secondary school students in Social Studies using two instruments: the teachers‟ questionnaire and a paper and pencil test for the students.

The major development associated with the National Policy on Education NPE (2008) is the pride of place it has given to Social Studies. The policy regards this subject as a compulsory core subject area which all students at Junior Secondary Schools cannot dispense with in their learning activities. Very importantly the policy endorsed that, the teaching of Social Studies in our Junior Secondary Schools must be seen as one of those avenues of establishing strong basis for the production of effective citizens and of foregoing a cohesive society that will support the notion of the nation building.

The above statement implies not only a perception of the Social Studies education in terms of understanding on human relationship, but also in terms of its aims at producing citizens with skills, competencies, moral values and reasoned judgment to effectively live,

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interact, interrelate and contribute positively to the economic, social and political development of Nigerian Society.

According to Okobiah (1999) to achieve these objectives in Social Studies education, the teachers involved in this task must implore qualified, well experienced and well attended workshop, seminars and conferences organized for social studies teachers. However for the current practice in Social Studies education to be vital and valid within classroom context, it must be made operational by the teacher through qualification and teaching experience, aims and objectives, curriculum context, methodology, instructional materials, resources and evaluation procedure/processes.

For the diversified curriculum structures of social studies to be delivered by the professional teachers successfully, Social studies as a discipline must integrate the divergent and contemporary issues in Nigerian school curriculum. However it is generally accepted fact that Social Studies education stresses societal goals with man and his socio-economic and political environment as the focal point. Social Studies is an integrated discipline aimed at solving the complex and diversified problems of man in totality.

IMPACT OF TEACHER QUALITY ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SOCIAL