SELECTION AND UTILIZATION OF SOCIAL STUDIES INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS BY SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN EBONYI STATE

Abstract

The study focused on selection and utilization of Social studies instructional methods by secondary schools teachers in Ebonyi State. Five purposes of study were formulated to guide the study. Five research questions rooted in the purpose were also formulated and three null hypotheses were also made to guide the study. The design of the study was descriptive survey research design aimed at eliciting information from the respondents based on the research questions that guided the study. The population of the study comprises 250 Social studies teachers in three education zones of Ebonyi State. The instrument used for data collection was checklist and data were analyzed using frequency tables, mean and standard deviation, while t-test was used in analyzing the three null hypotheses. The findings of the study revealed that, there was wide spectrum of instructional methods available for use in teaching Social studies, that most of the instructional methods available were selected and utilized by Social studies teaches in teaching the subject. The findings also revealed that poor qualifications of teachers, unclear objectives of the subject, inadequate instructional aids, poor funding, among others were the factors that adversely affect selection and utilization of Social studies instructional methods by secondary school teachers in Ebonyi State. Based on these findings, some recommendations were made, VIZ: that government and Ministry of Education should employ qualified and competent teachers to teach  Social studies, government and Ministry of Education should also as a matter of urgency provide instructional aids and organize workshops on improvisation of instructional materials  for Social studies teachers.