TEACHERS’ AND STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF JUNIOR SECONDARY SOCIAL STUDIES IN ADDRESSING POVERTY IN SABON GARI AND ZARIA LGA’S KADUNA STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study

The most pathetic feature Nigerian society today is that a majority of its members are living in a state of destitution while the remaining relatively insignificant minorities are living in aluence. These skewed economic relations do not reflect the geographic spread of resources endowment. It is true that where one comes from can be a strong determinant of one’s economic status because of dierence in opportunities and constraints. That is why every society is making sure that her citizens are educated because education plays an important role in the well being of any nation that want to sustain its prominence in the global scene this is because education not only liberates, it is a vital tool for empowerment that allows meaningful contributions to the development of a society as such, it is believed that education is the foundation for sustainable lifelong learning that enable learners acquire functional literacy as well as skills that will make himself reliant. At independence in 1960, eorts to eradicate poverty in Nigeria have centered more on education because poverty has no geographical boundary; it is seen in the North, West, South and East. It is found in the rural as well as in the urban areas of Nigeria. The World Bank recently reported that the sub-Saharan African countries including Nigeria have the largest share of people living in poverty according to World Bank poverty is hunger.

The poor are those who are unable to obtain an adequate income, find a stable job, own property or maintain 13 healthy conditions. They also lack an adequate level of education and cannot satisfy their basic health needs (Sancho, 1996) thus, the poor are oen illiterate in poor health and have a short life span (world bank 1995).

They have limited access to basic necessities of life such as food, clothing, decent shelter and are unable to meet social and economic obligations they lack skills and gainful employment, have few, if any economic assets and sometimes lack of self esteem (Olayemi, 1995). Social studies was introduced in Nigeria on the national basis as part of the general curriculum conference at 1969 National Conference at Lagos. At the conference social studies was given primary importance as a tool for implementing the national policy on education in 1977.

It was a right tool to be used to instill in the youths right values and attitudes. Thus, social studies could be seen as a programme of study in our schools which is used to inculcate in the learners the knowledge skills, attitude and actions considered important in human relationship in the society. According to NERDC (2000) social studies is those common learning of man’s interaction with his social and physical environment. It is not only a study but a way of life of how man influence and is influenced by his physical, social, political, economic and eternal environment. Obidoa (1991) highlighted the following as some of the reasons behind the introduction of social studies into the Nigerian educational system.