PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE SOLUTION OF TEACHING AND LEARNING COMPUTER SCIENCE IN JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine science in Junior Secondary Schools in Enugu Educational Zone. In order to carry out this study effectively two (2) research questions were asked and answered. Which are; what are the major problems of teaching and learning computer science in Junior Secondary Schools in Enugu Educational Zone and how can such problems be tackled? The instrument used is questionnaire. Data obtained where analyzed are many problems yet to be solved in teaching and learning computer science especially lack of qualified teachers and computer in our Junior secondary schools

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

The Education by the end of the 20th century no longer prepares individuals to secure white colar Jobs or life long employment in local industries or services. Rather education is for individuals and National developments. Similarly, the major objective of education is to bring about desirable change in behaviour in individuals and society at large. Abimade (1998) stated that the realization of the noblerole of computer in man’s quest for or comfortable living has today necessitated the introduction of computer as a curriculum in all the levels of our education institution. Recently, computer science students was introduced in the state to few selected secondary schools in Enugu education zone in (2000/2001) academic session by education resources teachers by contract from western part of the country. Unfortunately, there are myriad problems that are still hampering the proper take off of the studies in our Secondary Schools in Nigeria at large and Enugu State in particular. Some of these problems can be classified as lack of computer science teaches and computer components in our Schools. The  very few teachers that are available were posted to selected urban schools. The result is that computer studies has not started well in Enugu State in as much as it has not been registered in JSSCE examination. Even in urban schools the number of computer teaches are grossly inadequate not to talk of rural schools. That may be why Okeke (2008) stated that he State Ministry of education may only register students in computer studies in JSSCE when the product of Enugu State college of education and other higher institutions may have produced enough teachers to go round the state secondary schools. These trained teachers would definitely provide the teaching that one required in the secondary schools.

Therefore, the statement problem of this study put as a question is:-

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The How fast the world has grown, from the days of the primitive man, to the days of the medieval man and down to the day of the modern man. The world at large seen by the myopic man as two ends two far to be reached, has so soon been conquered by great minds. It is generally believed that education is the bed rock for every technological and economic development of any Nation. As a result of that, the three (3) tiers of governments are trying to reform educational system through training of teachers by giving them scholarships, good conditions of service, enhanced salaries and pay them salaries as at when due. Despite this efforts made by the governments, there is still persistent increase in failure rate as always indicated in the annual reports by the national examination bodies such as WAEC, NECO, NATEB and JAMB. The failure rate has led to numerous researches that looked at the teachers’ method of teaching, teachers’ characteristics, teachers attitude and students’ attitudes towards education and its attendant effects on academic performance of students as a result of the failure rate, the teaching process seems to move from teacher centred to student-centred method of teaching, yet the story almost remain the same many studies have revealed that students have poor attitude towards education and as a result of that academic performance is affected negatively. Hence, for many years now in Nigeria, many people are in doubt of the quality of products of her education from primary, post primary and tertiary institutions. Education discourse on poor academic performance seems to be the issue of the day. Minds that saw the possibility of turning this vast globe too large to be explored into a global village, where the distance between two ends could be reached in split seconds. Much could be said about such great minds as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, men who through sound reasoning, birth fourth great ideas, that has so much impacted the world. But I believe that much more could be said about a set of men born in a particular generation, without whose contribution, the world would have remained a vast globe, whose two ends could never be reached in split seconds. Men whom through their great inventions conquered the barrier of time and distance, through whose inventions one of the greatest gift to mankind was delivered, i would take a deep breath at this point to mention “The computer”.
Thanks to Charles Barbbage, John Nappier, Lady Ad Lovelace, and others for such great inventions. Without the computer, our world could not be complete, education with all its great prospects as a process of successfully training the young and instilling the moral values and otherwise into them could never be complete. Perhaps computer literacy may improve the knowledge and ability of students for higher academic performance. Computer literacy is the knowledge and ability to use computer and technology efficiently. Computer literacy can also be referred to the comfort level someone has by using computer programmes and other application that are related to computers. The occurrence of computer literacy continues to grow at an outstanding rate. A computer is an electronic device that has the ability to accept data, store data, process data by following a set of instructions (programme) to produce result. Computer always change; they become smaller, faster and more powerful. These changes have motivated the modern society to become comfortable with basic computer related skills. How would the Enugu State government produce computer science teachers that could effect teaching/learning computer studies  effectively in our secondary schools

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

This study investigated the problems and possible solutions of teaching / learning computer science in Junior Secondary Schools Enugu Education Zone. Specifically the study sought to find answers to the following specific objective

1. To ascertain the role of government in aiding effective teaching of computer science in secondary school
2. To investigate the impact of instructional material in the teaching of computer science

• To ascertain the effect of computer literacy level on teaching computer science.

1. To proffer suggested solutions to the identified problem

1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

To aid the completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;

H₀: government does not play any role in aiding effective teaching of computer in secondary schools by teachers

H₁: government does play a role in aiding effective teaching of computer in secondary schools by teachers

H₀²: computer literacy level of the teachers does not affect proper teaching of computer science in secondary schools

H₂: computer literacy level of the teachers does affect proper teaching of computer science in secondary schools

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the major problems of teaching and learning computer science in Junior Secondary Schools in Enugu education zone?
2. How can such problems be tackled?

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study may highlight the problems that hamper proper take off of Computer studies in Enugu State. These study might suggest the problem of lack of teacher for Computer solutions for the Ministry of Education. The study may provide some adhoc decisions for the principals in the course of teaching Computer Science. It may also suggest possible text books that may be recommended for the students and few teachers. Nigerian secondary schools today lack behind in the computer science subject in comparison to some well developed countries. In this sense, the significance of this study cannot be over emphasized since the result from this investigation could help in setting standard requirements for computer science teachers, and help identify the basic challenge facing teachers, which if well treated could enhance teacher’s effectiveness and student learning in Nigerian secondary schools. Also, the growth of a nation starts from the grassroots level, if education at the local government level is well maintained, on the long run it may affect the education at the state level in general, following this investigation therefore, computer science in secondary school.

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study focused on investigating the problem and possible solutions of teaching/learning computer science in Junior Secondary Schools in Enugu education Zone. The study used JSS 2 students in Secondary Schools in Enugu, Enugu Education Zone because there is no registration of Computer studies in JSSCE.

(a)Availability of research material: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study.

(b)Time: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

(c)Finance: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Computer: A computer is a machine or an apparatus that manipulate data according to a list of instructions, whose end product (output) may be expressible in numerical or logical terms.
Teaching: Teaching could be defined as the process of transferring knowledge or the activities of educating or instructing with the aim of impacting knowledge or skill from a generation to another.
Problem: A problem could be defined in this context as a question proposed from academic discussion or scholastic disputation or a continued or imagined situation in which the task is to produce or prove some specified result by the exercise of thought.
Investigation: The action or process of investigating, careful research, or an instance of systematic inquiry or careful study of a particular subject.

1.9 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion and also recommendations made of the study.

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