MOTIVATIONAL STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SECONDARY SCHOOL A CASE STUDY OF ONITSHA SOUTH SECONDARY SCHOOL

ABSTRACT

The study is an investigation into the motivational strategies for effective teaching and learning in secondary school. It provides a conceptual and theoretical appraisal of motivational strategies for effective teaching and learning and proffers a case study of Onitsha south secondary school

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The teacher is central in the teaching-learning process, being the facilitator, giver of knowledge, information, values, and skills for a child. The strategic position of teachers thus makes it imperative for them to be accorded priority and attention. In Nigeria, low status of teachers, has been prevalent, which is having serious implications on their performance, quality of their teaching, their attitudes to work/behavior in schools, the academic performance of the pupils/students, and ultimately, the standard of education. This research thus, considers the need for motivation of teachers as imperative in Nigeria. In the research, various strategies for teachers such as the provision of incentives, regular promotion, prompt payment of salaries, involvement in decision making among others, are highlighted and discussed, for the attention of the stakeholders in education, the government, school administrator. It is however hopeful that the adoption and implementation of these strategies will ensure effective teaching in our schools, and a turnaround in the standard of education.

CHAPTER ONE

1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The concept ‘motivation’ takes its root from the Latin word ‘movere’, which means ‘to move‘. There is no universal definition for it, having been defined in different ways in literature. , motivation is the inner drive that pushes individual towards an action, for the purpose of achieving the target objectives. It is defined as the determination of the nature and locus of the forces inducing the degree of readiness. It is also defined as the energizing force that induces and maintains behaviour. From these definitions and others still in literature, motivation can be described as man’s driving force towards an action or the condition that makes individual to carry out an action. Motivators are things, situations, and conditions that encourage individual to perform better in an organization, which can be tangible or intangible. Tangible motivators are the physical objects/materials such as gist and money. Intangible motivators are non-visible objects, things or conditions, such as promotion, commendation (written or verbal), achievement, regular payment of salaries, participation in decision making.

The issue of motivator is relative, depending on individual’s priority in an organization. The concept of individual differences does come into focus while discussing motivator. It is worthy of note that what can motivate A to perform better in an organization might vary from that of B. Some individuals can be motivated by money and gis. Money is thus believed not to be an end in itself but a means to an end. To some individuals, no amount of money can push them towards an improved performance. Every organization has objectives to achieve. The level of achievement of such objectives will dictate how the organization is fairing. It is not a gainsaying that teachers occupy unique position in educational institution. they are the fulcrum on which the lever of educational system rests. Teachers need to be motivated so that the schools and educational system as a whole can enjoy their fullest contribution. Even though what can motivate a teacher for effectiveness in a school varies from one teacher to another.