1.1 Introduction
Geography is a subject that studies the interrelationships between the physical environment and humans in the place (Jha, 2007). The natural side studies various topics such as climatology, weather, geomorphology, topography maps, rocks, soils, natural resources, seas and oceans geography. The human side pertains to the social relationships among peoples within the one region and the effects of the interrelationships between people and their surrounding environment. Geography deals with population all over the world, thus it is required to be studied from near and far. The use of information technologies in the field of geography, an important discipline in social sciences, contributes to rendering abstract phenomena and concepts concrete, thereby increasing high school education students’ interest in geographic education.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Over the years, there have been growing concerns about the attitude of students towards the study of Geography in secondary schools. The need to adapt our education to the needs of the Nigerian society started before and after independence. Many educational elites began to recognize that the functional inadequacies of the educational system inherited from the colonial education failed to develop positive values, attitudes and habits in our society because the Geography they taught was British oriented and has nothing to offer to the Nigerian child.
National Policy on Education (2004) has in recognition the important role Geography will play towards the achievement of the country’s educational aims and objectives. Thus, Geography was made a core subject. Hence, there is a greater responsibility for Geography teachers in Nigeria today than the days before independence; this is because the Nigerian youths now live in an environment characterized by social ills and moral decadence which have to be curbed at all cost. The youths therefore need Geography education which focuses on the problems and issues of human beings in their changing environments and seeks to develop desirable habits, values, attitudes and skills in order to solve them.
Historically, the word "geography" was first used in 1540 “Middle French geographie (15c), from Latin geographia and from Greek geographia”. It means describing the manifestations of the earth's surface (Etymonline, 2016). In 1880, there has been a need to improve geography teachingin schools and colleges, thus, in 1886, the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) publishedthe Keltie Report and conducted some improvements in geography education (RGS, 2016).
The purpose of teaching is primarily to assist the learner acquire the type of knowledge and skill that will produce desirable change in him. This can be actualized if the teaching and learning process provides the enabling environment for the learner to think critically, analytically and consequently, be an agent of change. Generally, the educational system is subdivided into the primary, secondary and tertiary levels. In some cases, the pre-primary education is an integral part of the primary level.
Researchers have concentrated much on the cognitive aspect of teaching in our secondary schools because of the importance attached to success in public examinations; however, there is interplay between the cognitive and affective areas of teaching. For example, Taylor (2001) and Gunsch (2005) have shown that there is a relationship between interest and developments in different school subjects, therefore, it is believed that favourable attitude towards Geography may influence to a considerable extent the uptake of knowledge in Geography.
Studies relating to specific aspects of students’ attitude towards Geography and other related subjects have been undertaken by several researchers. Jekayinfa (2007) has reported that high grade in Geography at lower forms is a factor that can pull students to history in the secondary schools in Nigeria. In the study of factors associated with interest in science, Ormerod and Dukworth (2000) have also identified a number of factors like personality, home and other environmental factors among American and British High School students.
Therefore, in Dekina LGA, Kogi State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Factors Associated with Mass Failure of Geography Students in Secondary Schools.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the poor attitude of students towards the study of Geography in secondary schools in Dekina Local Government is in an unsatisfactory state of affairs and imbalance in the educational sector in particular and the nation’s development in general. Geography as a core subject in the junior secondary school level suggest the importance the government, parents and students themselves attach to the study.
The phenomena increase in students’ attitude towards the study of Geography in junior secondary schools should not be allowed to remain for too long unattended to. The need to motivate students to develop positive attitude towards the study of Geography in secondary school and to create a conducive environment for studying Geography is not disputable and cannot be over-emphasized.
The unfortunate thing is that students’ attitude towards the study of Geography in schools is fraught with a lot of problems. There is a general belief that whenever students perform poorly in their courses the teacher has not really taught them well. People hardly look at the problem from the point of view of the student’s attitude towards the courses; the problem of this study therefore is to ascertain why students have poor attitude towards the study of Geography in secondary schools.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Factors Associated with Mass Failure of Geography Students in Secondary Schools using Dekina Local Government Area in Kogi State as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To find out if there are sufficient numbers of qualified teachers and instructional materials for teaching of Geography;
- To examine the previous socio-economic background of the students affect them in studying Geography;
- To examine the influence of school management system on teaching and learning process in Geography; and
- To examine attitude and interest of students towards the nature of Geography that contributes deeply to their mass failure in JSSCE especially in Geography.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Are there sufficient numbers of qualified Geography teachers and instructional materials for teaching Geography?
- Does the previous socio-economic background of the students affect them in studying Geography?
- Does poor attitude and low interest of students towards the nature of Geography that contributes deeply to their mass failure in JSSCE especially in Geography?
- What is the influence of school management system on teaching and learning process in Geography?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There are no significant factors militating against the teaching and learning of the Geography among secondary school students in Dekina Local Government Area Secondary Schools
- H1: There are significant factors militating against the teaching and learning of the Geography among secondary school students in Dekina Local Government Area Secondary Schools
1.7 Significance of Study
The student will be able to appreciate the importance of the effective domain like interest and motivation in improving their performance. With this awareness, the student might put up a positive attitude towards English language which will increase their performance and enhance higher grades in junior secondary school certificate examination.
Teachers will also be able to adjust their teaching methods and offer remedial helps where they find out that student are putting up a low attitude. State government will also see the need of guidance and counseling in each school, the ministry of education and curriculum planners for better organization of junior subjects in education.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of this research is focused on the Factors Associated with Mass Failure of Geography Students in Secondary Schools using Dekina Local Government Area, Kogi State as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- 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).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Geography: This deals with a wide variety of landforms and natural phenomena on earth, it also deals with knowing where places are in order to relate happenings. Geography consists of the study of our planet, its climatic conditions, the various landforms and the different natural occurrences.
Education: This is a process by which a society deliberately transmits its cultural heritage through schools, colleges, universities and other institutions.
Educational Technology: Is a process involving, a systematic approach to identifying instructional problems and then designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating instructional solutions.
Academic Performance: can be defined as the outcome of education, the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their educational goal. Academic achievement is commonly measured by examination or continuous assessment.
Instructional material: instructional materials are to be defined as items that are designed to serves as a major tool for assisting in the instruction of a subject or course.
