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:
1.
to ascertain the societal perception to
teaching and teachers
2.
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:
1.
What is the relationship between
societal role perception of teaching/teachers and their professional
dedication?
2.
What is the relationship between the low
status of teachers and their professional efficiency and dedication?
3.
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:
1.
That the societal perception of
teaching/teachers has no significant effect on teacher’s professional
efficiency and dedication to work
2.
That there will be no significant
difference between the low status accorded teachers in our society and
teachers’ efficiency and dedication to work
3.
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:
1.
Egan Secondary Schools
2.
Alimosho Secondary School
3.
Igando Secondary School
4.
Ijegun Secondary School
5.
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.
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