EFFECTS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ON THE COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY ONE PUPILS

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Product Category: Projects

Product Code: 00004610

No of Pages: 59

No of Chapters: 5

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ABSTRACT

The study attempted to investigate the effects of early childhood education on the cognitive development of primary one pupils in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State. In this study, extensive and relevant literature review was carried out under related sub-headings. The descriptive research survey was used in this study in order to carry out the objective assessment of the opinions of the respondents selected for this study. In addition, the questionnaire was adopted for the collection of data necessary for this study, while the sampling technique was applied in selecting the samples for this study. In total, four null hypotheses were generated and tested in this study, with the application of both the Pearson Product Moment Correlation and the t-test of independence variable. At the end of the analyses, the following results emerged: that there is a significant relationship between pre-primary school education and cognitive development among children in schools, there is a significant difference between pre-primary school education and children’s school achievement in schools, that no significant difference exists between the speech development of children taught by parents and those taught by teachers and that there is a significant gender difference in cognitive development by children due to attendance of pre-primary education. Based on the conclusions of this study, the researcher recommended that the National Policy on Education should be reviewed to include among others the education of the Nigerian child from 0 – 2 years.


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page                                                                                                                   i

Certification                                                                                                              ii

Dedication                                                                                                                 iii

Acknowledgement                                                                                                   iv

Abstract                                                                                                                     v

Table of contents                                                                                                    

 

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study                                                                            1

1.2       Statement of the Problem                                                                            4

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       Scope of the Study                                                                                       7

 

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0             Introduction                                                                                                  8

2.1             Language and Linguistic Development                                                    8

2.1.1       Intellectual Growth and Potential for Learning                                       10

2.1.2       Personality and Emotional Development                                                             11

2.2             Early Childhood Education Curriculum                                                   12

2.2.1       Objectives of Early Childhood Education                                               13

2.2.2       Designing a Curriculum for ECE                                                               14

2.3             The Philosophical Bases of Pre-Primary Education                               15

2.4             The National Policy on Pre-Primary Education                                      17

2.5             Early Child Care Development and Education (ECCDE) Project        18

2.6             Characteristics of Early Childhood Development                                  20       

2.7             Parental Role in Early Childhood Development                                                 23

2.7.1       Parental Education                                                                                       26

2.8       Effect of Pre-Primary Education on Speech Development of Children28

2.9             Summary of Review                                                                                    31

 

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1       Research Design                                                                                           32

3.2       Sample and Sampling Technique                                                              32

3.3       Population of the Study                                                                              32

3.4       Instrumentation                                                                                            33

3.5       Reliability of the Instrument                                                                      33

3.6       Procedure for Data Collection                                                                   33

3.7       Method of Statistical Analysis                                                                   34

 

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS

4.1 Interpretation of Data                                                                                       35

4.2 Testing of Hypotheses                                                                                      41

4.3 Summary of Findings                                                                                        44

 

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary of the Study                                                                                      46

5.2 Conclusions                                                                                                        47

5.3 Recommendations                                                                                             47

 

REFERENCES                                                                                                          49

APPENDIX                                                                                                                53

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

A baby is in the making as soon as conception takes place. Normally, it takes 9 months for a full grown baby in the womb to be born into the world, barring all accidents and pre-mature delivery. A baby right from conception, is a unique individual with his or her special characteristics, Caplan and Caplan (1995). According to them, the nature of children is such that no two children are completely the same or alike in everything not even identical twins. Thus, there are obvious differences that differentiate one child from another. Nwagbara (2003), the complexities in children result both from nature and nurture. Children go through different stages of development that is, from birth to young adults. This early years from 2 years to 6 years are critical in their development. During this period, children’s physical, mental and psychological development take a leap as they are in a constant state of flux. They are in the process of undergoing great changes and making significant development strides, especially in the area of language acquisition and development.

It is believed that children’s reading matter should be linked to their own spoken language as well as to their interest and experiences for intellectual growth. The focus on the cognitive growth of children is a welcome development (Anyanwu, 1991). This is because the brain of a youngster is “tabula rasa” ready to be occupied. Realizing that, educators go into searching for the appropriate stimuli that can yield the best result for the children. Webber (1970) opines that it must be recognized that something can be done about children’s intelligence as a result of the type of experiences provided for them.

Aiyedun (1984) is of the opinion that story books provide such experiences that can make for the intellectual growth of children. According to him, stories provide and improve reading, writing and thinking skills especially as they stimulate the intellect. Stories foster understanding of human actions. Just one story can form the bases for more detailed exploration of other actions. Selected experiences as reflected in story books give children the opportunity to use words that are familiar to them through their family life. Children are thus encouraged to extend vocabulary appropriately. Not only that they learn the vocabulary of colours, shapes, textures etc early in life as their story books are almost always pictorial. For the intellectual development of children, story books give the practice of the four language skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing. They also help children to learn new words as well as alternative meanings of words contextually. This is possible, especially if the language of the stories is not too simple.

According to Anyamelue (2003), it is important to give young children the quality care, nutrition and stimulation they need for healthy growth and development. Moreover, the holistic care of young children has been receiving recognition both in Nigeria and internationally. This was prominent in the CRC and re-echoed more recently at the Dakar World Education Forum, 2000. At the forum, the goal of expanding and improving comprehensive early childcare and education was re-affirmed.

One of the main features of early childhood is the rapid development of the brain. According to Godges (2001) “the last three months of prenatal life and the first two years after birth have been termed the most critical period to brain growth spurt”. This is because, during this period, more than half of the adult brain weight is added. It grows tremendously in the first few years of life, increasing to about 2/3 of adult weight by the end of the first year and to about 7.5% by the age of two years and 90% by the age of five. Thus, a five year old’s brain has developed almost to the level of an adult’s.

However, because of the rapid growth of the brain, the child needs adequate nutrition at this period. This is because, poor nutrition before and after birth and in the first few years of life can seriously hamper brain development. This can lead to neurological and behavioural disorders, which may manifest in learning disabilities.

There is research evidence to show that a baby’s brain is composed of trillions of neutrons waiting to be woven into the “intricate tapestry of the mind”. The experiences of childhood determine which neutrons are used, that wire the circuits of the brain. According to Hodges (2001), Begley observes that “the experiences of childhood determine whether a child grows up to be intelligent or dull, fearful or self assured, articulate or tongue tied”.

As Munonye (2002) puts it, there is also scientific evidence on the importance of adequate stimulation during early childhood period, necessary for the child’s cognitive development. There are definite periods in childhood development when the environment can influence how the brain is “wired” for certain functions like language, music, physical activity and even mathematics. It therefore means that the brain must receive the appropriate stimuli at the crucial time to perform these functions, else it may be impossible for it to “re-wire” itself later in life. Early childhood period therefore is a period that should be handled with utmost care. The decision to use primary one pupils was informed by their comparative level of advancement which diversifies their areas of possible testing when compared to their junior counterparts. In addition, the decision to use Kosofe Local Government Area in this study was borne out of its closeness to the researcher’s residence, hence its familiarity.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Most children these days do not develop well cognitively due to lack of early childhood education which is mainly given to children firstly by their parents and secondly by their teachers who are also regarded as surrogate parents in the school (Adebesin, 2010). Majority of pupils in primary one in the Nigerian school system, did not pass through the pre-primary schools where children are taught basically through the methods befitting to the children’s learn ability and comprehension in the early stage of life (Oyewale, 2006). Because of this lapse, most children in the primary schools fail to grasp the content of their lessons due to the fact that they started their early education from the stem instead of from the root (Oyewale, 2006).

Also, most of the teachers who are employed to teach at the primary one schools, do not apply the correct teaching methods that are comprehensible to the child, hence most children do not have high academic achievement in the early stages of their primary school education. Due to low cognitive development of the children, there has been poor academic performance virtually at all stages of our educational system. This is because what a child could not achieve during the early education, will be difficult for him/her to achieve at the apex stage of his/her educational life.

This study sets out to examine the effect of early childhood education on the cognitive development of primary one pupils.

1.3       Purpose of the Study

The specific objectives will include the following:

(1)       To determine the degree of connection between primary school education and cognitive development among children in schools.

(2)       To investigate whether there is a difference between primary school education and speech development among children in schools.

(3)       To  compare the cognitive development of children who were taught by their parents with those who were taught by teachers.

(4)              To investigate whether there is general difference in the cognitive development of children who had pre-primary education and those who did not.

(5)              To find out whether there is gender difference in the cognitive development due to pre-primary school education.

1.4       Research Questions

The following research questions will be asked in this study thus:

(1)       Is there any connection between primary school education and cognitive development among children in schools?

(2)       Will there be a significant relationship between pre-primary school education and speech development among children in primary schools?

(3)              How can we differentiate between the cognitive development of children who were taught by their parents and those who were taught by their teachers?

(4)              How can we investigate whether there is general difference in the speech development of children who had pre-primary education and those who did not?

(5)              Will there be any gender difference in the cognitive development of children due to pre-primary education?

1.5       Research Hypotheses

The following research hypotheses will be formulated and tested in this study:

1.                  There will be no significant connection between pre-primary school education and cognitive development among children in schools.

2.                  There will be no significant difference between pre-primary school education and children’s school achievement in schools.

3.                  There will be no significant difference between the speech development of children who were taught by their parents and those who were taught by teachers.

4.                  There will be no significant gender difference in the cognitive development of children due to pre-primary education.

1.6       Significance of the Study

The study will be of great benefit in the following ways:

(1)              With the recommendation of this study, teachers would be exposed to know how best to go about teaching or handling children at the lower level of the school system, the early childhood classes.

(2)              Teachers would be exposed to the appropriate methods to be used in teaching language to the child in school, especially at the  nursery and primary school system.

(3)              Parents would have a better insight on the essence of teaching the child to gain mastery of the language of his/her environment This study will expose them to the knowledge that they should be the first people to impart knowledge to the child, especially concerning children’s language development.

(4)              With this study and its recommendations, parents would be able to know the best techniques to  always use in teaching language to the children.

(4)       The society will be exposed to the process of language acquisition by the child in the society. With the recommendations, the society will also be able to know how best to assist the child in the area of acquisition and mastery of language.

1.7       Scope of the Study

This study will cover 5 primary schools in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State. Its main focus will be on the investigation of the effect of primary education on cognitive development of the child in the primary schools in Lagos State.

The sample size of this study will comprise of 200 (two hundred) teachers and pupils, made up of fifty (50) (25 males and 25 females) teachers; and 150 (one hundred and fifty) pupils (made up 75 males and 75 female pupils) who will be randomly selected from the five primary schools in the Local Government under review. The stratified method of random selection was used. The stratified sampling method was applied in order to select the respondents in their strata.

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