ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to
determine societal perceptional teaching and teachers’ dedication to
work using some selected secondary schools in Lagos State as a case
study. The descriptive method of research was adopted in conducting the
study. The population of the study comprised all teachers in Lagos
State. A total of one hundred teachers were randomly selected as sample
from the targeted population. A Likert typed self-developed
questionnaire titled Societal Perception Questionnaire (SPQ) was used
for data collection. The SPQ was subjected to content validity by three
experts in the field of study who scrutinized the questionnaire through
face validation. Their expert suggestions were used in perfecting the
structural components of the questionnaire before administration on
participants on the field. The test retest method was adopted in
establishing the reliability of SPQ and an r-valve of 0.65 was obtained
indicating the consistency of SPQ in collecting data for the study. A
total of one hundred copies of SPQ were administered on selected
respondents on the spot. The data collected were used to generate a
frequency distribution table for analysis. The descriptive statistic of
percentage was used in presenting the data, while the inferential
statistic of chi-square was used in testing stated hypotheses at 0.05
level of significance. The findings are as follows. Societal perception
of teaching/teachers had no significant effect on teacher’s professional
efficiency and dedication to work. There was a significant difference
between the low status accorded teachers in our society and teachers’
efficiency and dedication to work.
No significant relationship exists between teachers’ negative attitude to work and societal perception of teaching/teachers.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGES
Title Page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgment iv
Abstract v
Table of Content vi-vii
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 5
1.3 Purpose of the Study 5
1.4 Research Questions 5
1.5 Research Hypotheses 6
1.6 Significance of the Study 6
1.7 Delimitation of the Study 7
1.8 Limitation on the Study 7
CHAPTER TWO
2.1 The Teacher/Teaching 9
2.2 The Development of Teaching Education in Nigeria 12
2.3 The Contemporary Condition of Teachers and the
Profession in Nigeria 14
2.4 Historical Evolution of Low Status of Teacher 16
2.5 The Poor Public Image of Teachers 17
2.6 Factors Affecting the Status of Teachers in Nigeria 31
CHAPTER THREE
Research Methodology 35
3.1 Research Design 35
3.2 Population 35
3.3 The Study Sample and Sampling Technique 36
3.4 Research Instrument 36
3.5 Validity of Research Instrument 36
3.6 Reliability of Research Instrument 37
CHAPTER FOUR
Result and Discussion 38
CHAPTER FIVE
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation 43
Summary 43
Conclusion 44
Recommendation 45
References 46
Questionnaire 47
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
In Nigeria today and also in other
countries, education is an important tool for national development, the
ultimate strength of any nation hinges on the social responsibility,
economic competency and moral strength of her citizens, an onus that is
solely borne by the teachers through teaching. This is because education
has a vital role to play in the technological and economic advancement
of the country. Also because the primary obligation of teaching
profession any where in the world is to guide children, youths and
adults in the pursuit of knowledge and skills to develop healthy
attitudes for harmonious living (Adu & Olatundun, 2007). Teaching
according to Mandla (2000) is a social career and no career is more of
value to society than teaching. Its thus, a unique profession whose
quality directly influences the future of any nation. Teaching touches
the life of virtually everyone in the society, as doctors, scientist,
engineer, politicians and so forth were all taught by teachers in the
course of their professional training. Ukeje (1991) asserted that in a
developing nation, teaching is the most vital and strategic profession
for national development. Also in line with his assertion, Salami (1999)
argued that the greatness of any nation does not consist in the
abundance of her resources but on the educational system and the
teachers.
Countries that lack enough educated
citizens suffer the risk of technological and economic setbacks. In the
past, teachers and the teaching profession were given due recognition
and teachers went about their duties diligently and with pride. They
(teachers) were content with their jobs and many people would like to be
teachers or have their children stay with a teacher for moral and
intellectual upbringing. But all this belongs to the past, as the
profession has almost become an orphan that is not qualified for the
orphanage home. According to Salami (1999) many of the teachers drop
into the profession as a last resort and when they find an alternative
job that pays higher they quickly drop out. Also it’s a well-known fact
that many people today, regard the teaching profession as the dreg of
all profession and consequently the last choice by many applicants
(Jagun, 1990, Salami, 1999).
This very important sector has received
attention from most countries including Nigeria, who before now promised
education for all. The government has put in place, the Universal Basis
Education (UBE) to help in achieving its aim of giving every citizen a
chance of getting educated.
In order to achieve the laudable
educational goals as stipulated in the National Policy of Education
revised edition (1981) government at both federal and state level have
spent huge sum of money on training of teacher, building of schools and
purchase of equipment etc.
Training of teachers is one of the most
important aspects. To be given adequate attention. If the educational
advancement of the country is to be achieved, this is because teachers
constitute one of the important segments in the educational environment;
they are the ones charge with the responsibility of transmitting and
imparting knowledge on the students. Their roles in the educational
sector cannot be over emphasized.Their active presence is very essential
for the execution of educational programs. The student look up to their
teacher as role models who should be emulated, this is because the
school acts as the second agent of socialization for the child apart
from the child’s immediate family. The child grows up to imbibe most of
the teacher’s actions and behavior. The teacher has a big role to play
in the muddling and formation of desirable attitudes in the child.
These enormous duties which are expected
of the teacher can only be carried out in a very conductive and stable
environment. But it is a common knowledge now that teachers whose
contributions are very necessary are found to be inadequate in most
schools. Generally, schools now have very few teachers taking charge of
too many students, which makes it difficult for them to execute their
duties thoroughly and efficiently.
Schools that have enough teachers, have
those teachers spent most of their time on their private business thus,
giving very little time to their teaching profession.
In Nigeria today, the teaching
profession has suffered so much setbacks, the status of teachers in the
society has been greatly relegated to the background, and the profession
lacks the dignity as well as the satisfaction that is desired from it.
It also lacks the security that is expected from it and which other
profession give.
This trend has led to the teacher
approaching the job with little or no sense of purpose. There is no
exception of any category of teachers from the university professor to
the kindergarten teacher, its dismal account of constant humiliation,
denigration from government and society.
The historical evolution of teaching
profession revealed that no other profession in Nigeria has suffered in
terms of esteem, regard, respect and dignity as the teaching profession
despite itsvery important nature.
In some secondary schools in Lagos as
well as in others states, teachers are made to share the same room with
students because of lack of comfortable chairs and tables for the
teachers to use in the inadequate staff room. In such a situation, it is
of common knowledge that the teachers will not have the job
satisfaction which will inspire them to perform their duties diligently
and also it will greatly affect the respect that they deserve from the
student.
It has been observed that due to the
kind of low status accorded the teaching profession; prospective
teachers who have passion for the profession are shying away from the
job. Even primary school pupils aspire to be in other profession like
medicine, law, accountancy etc. While no one really wants to become a
teacher despite the fact that it is the teachers that make each and
every one in its chosen career. This attitude accorded the profession
has greatly affected teacher’s efficiency in recent time. They no longer
approach their work with the zeal and enthusiastic that is expected
from them.
It is time for the government and the
society to rise up to their responsibilities towards improving and
uplifting the status of teachers in the society.
It is against this background of growing concern that the researcher finds the study worth investigating.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Teaching efficiency has dwindled in
recent time and this have had adverse effect on the overall performances
of students in examinations, looking into the societal perception of
teachers and teaching will help in ascertaining the root causes of these
problems.
1.3. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The main purpose of this study was to
determine the societal perception of teaching and teachers dedication to
work. Other objectives of this study are as follows:
- to ascertain the societal perception to teaching and teachers
- to ascertain if there is any relationship between the societal perception of teaching and teachers and their efficiency
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions were raised to guide this study:
- What is the relationship between societal role perception of teaching/teachers and their professional dedication?
- What is the relationship between the low status of teachers and their professional efficiency and dedication?
- What is the relationship between teacher’s negative attitudes to
work and the societal perceptions of teacher role and teaching
efficiency?
1.5. RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
The following research questions weretestedin this study:
- That the societal perception of teaching/teachers has no significant
effect on teacher’s professional efficiency and dedication to work
- That there will be no significant difference between the low status
accorded teachers in our society and teachers’ efficiency and dedication
to work
- That teachers negative attitude to work has no significant relationship with the societal perception of teaching/teachers
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study is significant for many reasons.
This study when completed would be an
addition to existing knowledge in societal perception of
teaching/teachers dedication to work. It would also serve as basis for
further studies in the areas of teaching and teachers dedication to
work, as it will be a reference material for other researchers.
Furthermore, the findings of this study
would help to focus on the way teachers see their job and also the way
society sees the teaching profession.
Also the result of these findings will
highlight the problems affecting the professional efficiency of teachers
in our society. The result will also enlighten the government and the
society on the relevance of the profession and ways of improving their
efficiency.
1.7. DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This study was limited in scope to
randomly selected teachers of five randomly selected public secondary
schools in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State of Nigeria. In
the same vein, students of the randomly selected schools would not be
involved in the study. Names of the randomly selected public secondary
schools are:
- Egan Secondary Schools
- Alimosho Secondary School
- Igando Secondary School
- Ijegun Secondary School
- State High School, Alimosho
1.8. LIMITATION ON THE STUDY
A research is an intellectually
stimulating experience. A researcher must therefore prepare for that
experience by clearly embracing all aspects of investigative study of
the phenomenon which the work wishes to put under examinations, be
objective and impartial as well as factual. These are limitation because
every stage in a research that conforms to the primary requirement of
scientific validation ultimately involves time and financial cost.
Time cost is extremely critical to the
research the more the time, the more the possibility that all relevant
facts may be considered. For this reason, I have limited my study to the
political boundary of Lagos state and the choice of five secondary
schools from Alimosho Local Government Area.
Another limitation to the study was the
financial cost. The financial constraint is particularly most critical
when data have to be collected directly by the researcher. The larger
the sample frame, the heavier the financial cost. Thus, the researcher
has to strike a balance between the cost and effectiveness, this study
focus has a relatively limited scope and size in order to accommodate
the financial constraint.