ABSTRACT

The study on the teaching skill need of secondary school teachers in selected schools in Zaria local government area, Kaduna State is with the aim to determine and identify the major teaching skills needed by teachers in schools in the area of study, to determine teachers competencies and ability in the use of identified teaching skills in their daily teaching/learning activities, to determine constraints and limitations teachers face in the use of teaching skills in daily teaching/learning activities, to explore possible strategies to encourage the use of relevant teaching skills by teachers in the secondary schools. The study made use of primary data which are gotten from the distribution of the research questionnaires; the sample size for the study is 50. The study made use of the Chi-square test to validate the research hypothesis for the analysis. The study found out that most teachers explore all possible strategies to employ relevant teaching skills in my class room instruction delivery, they use identified competences for effective teaching and learning in the presentation of learning materials to my students. The study therefore concluded that teachers’ competencies and ability play significant role in the use of identified teaching skills in their daily teaching/learning activities (p-value = 0.000). The study also made useful recommendation to assist the federal government in decision making.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

The educational sector in Nigeria has improved overtime as a result of improvement in teaching skills needed by the federal government from the secondary school teachers in most secondary schools in Nigeria (Okeke, 2005).

        Skills as used here refer to the competencies required of the teachers for the implementation process of the improvement in the teaching efficiency in the class rooms. The skills may be thinking ability, mentoring and guidance and counseling, the ability to use instructional materials and demonstration.

The thinking skills deal with innovation, creativity and improvement in new ideas and method in teaching. The mentoring skill has to deal with the ability of teachers to placed them self as a role model before their students in learning environment. The guidance and counseling skill has to do with the teachers’ ability to understand the behavioural pattern, the variation in the rate of assimilation of lessons by students during teaching.

Another important skill needed by secondary school teachers is practical knowledge. Nneji (1995) found that in a descending order, practical work, aptitude, level of formal reasoning, theoretical knowledge, and use of learning resources contributed substantially to practical skill acquisition.

Greg (1975) suggested “activity” method as a strategy to be employed during practical work for effective skill development. He defined activity method as the interaction of selected creative (though innovative) activities with the language work undertaken and with the experience (existing and provided) of the children which differentiates lifeless, unfruitful and unrealistic activity work from that which is existing, alive and meaningfully inter-disciplining.  

The teachers are expected to be armed with the above competencies in an effort to impart the skills on the students so as to be functional members of the society.

The study in this regard wishes to examine the teaching skill need of secondary school teachers using some selected schools in Zaria local government area as the case study.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The study on the teaching skill need of secondary school teachers came about as a result of poor performance of most teachers in secondary schools. Some of the findings as regards poor performance are poor listening ability of teachers, lack of instructional materials to build their confidence, poor knowledge of the teaching environment and inability to think effectively during classes. Secondly most of the research has been carried out on teaching and learning but not even a single research has been done on teaching skill need of secondary school teachers.

1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The main aim of the research work is to determine the teaching skill need of secondary school teachers in selected schools in Zaria local government area, Kaduna State. Other specific objectives of the study include:

1. to determine and identify the major teaching skills needed by teachers in schools in the area of study
2. to determine teachers competencies and ability in the use of identified teaching skills in their daily teaching/learning activities
3. to determine constraints and limitations teachers face in the use of teaching skills in daily teaching/learning activities
4. to explore possible strategies to encourage the use of relevant teaching skills by teachers in the secondary schools

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions were formulated for the study in line with the objectives of the study:

1. What are the major teaching skills needed by teachers in schools in the area of study?
2. Do teachers’ competencies and ability play any significant role in the use of identified teaching skills in their daily teaching/learning activities?
3. What are the constraints and limitations teachers face in the use of teaching skills in daily teaching/learning activities?
4. What are the possible strategies to encourage the use of relevant teaching skills by teachers in the secondary schools?

1.5 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Hypothesis 1

H0: teachers’ competencies and ability do not play any significant role in the use of identified teaching skills in their daily teaching/learning activities

H1: teachers’ competencies and ability play significant role in the use of identified teaching skills in their daily teaching/learning activities

Hypothesis 2

H0: the availability of instructional materials does not improve teaching skill among secondary school teachers in Zaria local government, Kaduna State

H1: the availability of instructional materials improves teaching skill among secondary school teachers in Zaria local government, Kaduna State

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The study on the teaching skill need of secondary school teachers in selected schools in Zaria will be of immense benefit to the entire secondary schools in Zaria Local government area, Kaduna State. The findings of the study will educate the teachers on the criteria for skilled teachers in secondary schools in Nigeria. The study will also identify the factors affecting teaching use of teaching skill need by most teachers and offer possible solution. Finally the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and knowledge in this field of study and provide a basis for further research

1.7 SCOPE OF STUDY

The study on the teaching skills need of secondary school teachers in selected schools is limited to secondary schools in Zaria local government area, Kaduna State. The study will cover the criteria for skilled teachers in secondary schools in Nigeria and also the factors affecting teaching skill need of secondary school teachers in Nigeria

1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

SKILL: the ability to do something well; expertise

Curriculum: The subjects that are included in a course of study or taught in a school.

Receptive: The willingness to listen to or to accept new ideas or suggestions

Interpretation: The particular way in, which some thing is understood or explained.

Emphasize: To give special importance to something.

Concentrate: To give all your attention to something and not think about anything else.

Obstacle: A situation that makes it difficult for you to do or achieve something