ABSTRACT
The study
investigate students perception of practical agricultural science in senior
secondary in Ilorin west LGA, Kwara State
The population for
this study is made up of all Agricultural science students. The instrument used
for this study was research design questionnaire and responses were elicited
for the research, random sampling method was used to sample students offering
agricultural science from each of the four schools involved in the study. Four
research question and hypotheses were used to guide in the study. Simple
percentage was used in answering the research question and chi-square analysis was
used to test the null hypotheses at a significant difference of 0.05.
The result of the
study reveal that student have a positive
perception, positive attitude and
interest toward practical agricultural science,
furthermore it also showed that there is no significant difference between male
and female student in their interest,
attitude and perception of agricultural science practical. Finally it was
revealed that students perception of practical agricultural science influence
their choice of agricultural science as a career
The study recommended among others that
agricultural science teachers should continue to sustain students interest in
practical agricultural science through motivations and various pedagogical
methods, and female students should be given equal opportunity in agricultural
sector like their male counter parts since there is no difference in the way
students viewed Agricultural science. The study further recommend that student interest in agricultural science
practical should be sustained through the provision of agricultural science
facilities and learning resources.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgements iv
Abstract vi
Table of Contents vii
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the problem 1
Statements of Problem 4
Purpose of the Study 5
Research Questions 5
Research
Hypotheses 6
Scope of the Study 6
Clarification of
Major Terms and Variables 6
Significance of
the Study 7
CHAPTER
TWO
LITERATURE
REVIEW
Concept of Agricultural Education 9
Objectives and Contents of Agricultural
Science Curriculum 15
Empirical studies on student attitude
towards practical agricultural science 22 Hindrances to Teaching and
Learning of Practical Agricultural
Science in
Secondary Schools 26
Strategies for improving Teaching and
Learning of Practical Agricultural science 31
Appraisal
of Reviewed Literature 34
CHAPTER
THREE
METHODOLOGY
Research Design 37
Population of the Study 37
Sampling and Sampling Techniques 37
Research Instrument 38
Validation of Instruments 38
Procedure for Data Collection 38
Data Analysis Techniques 39
CHAPTER
FOUR
DATA
ANALYSIS AND RESULT
Data Analysis and Result 40
Summary of Major Findings 50
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Discussion 51
Conclusion 53
Recommendations 54
References 56
Appendix 63
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background
to the problem
Globally, education today is widely
known as the most effective investment a country can make ,according to World
Bank (2007) Education is one of the critical pathway to promote
social and economic development. It can bring about a better life, better world
and raises economic development, it can improve the wellbeing of family and
ensure better prospect of education for children (Galchukia 1999).
Secondary
schools are the intermediary institutions between primary schools and tertiary
institutions. In the present 9-3-4
system of education in Nigeria, the last three years of nine year basic
education is for upper basic (Junior
Secondary) while the three years is for Senior
secondary (FRN,2013). Its curriculum contains subjects that are capable
of preparing its students to live a useful life within the society and also
prepare them for higher education, one
of the subjects that can help in attaining these objectives is Agricultural science.
The need for agricultural science education
in the Nigeria secondary schools system cannot be over emphasized due to the
enormous impact of the agricultural sector on the nation’s economy. Agriculture
plays a critical role in job creation & poverty alleviation by successive
government in Nigeria through different programmes. The Nigerian agriculture
had suffered neglect for decades due to the discovery of oil. However, the
sector still contributes significantly to the nation’s gross domestic product.
As highlighted by Adegboye (2004), agriculture contributes more than 30 percent
of the country’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employs about 70 percent
of the labour force, accounts for over 90 percent of the nation’s non-oil
exports and provides over 80 percent of the country’s food resources. Most
African economies are dominated by agriculture, which contributes about 17% to
the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 40% of exports, employment creation and has
the potential to reduce poverty. The agricultural sector has been described as
the engine for economic growth and improved livelihoods in Africa (World Bank
2006; Diao et al., 2007).
Practical
aspect of Agricultural science is so vital to national growth and productivity.
According to the National Policy on Education(2004), Agriculture is one of the
subjects offered in Junior and Senior
Secondary Schools, as a pre-vocational elective and vocational elective
respectively (Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2013).
The teaching and learning of
agricultural science in Nigeria secondary schools is far from satisfactory due to student perception and approach used
in teaching the subject as pointed out by Sekamu (2009) , that agriculture is
taught theoretically an as failed to make an impression on the society
Perception
is derived from the Latin words perceptio or percipio meaning the organization,
identification, and interpretation of sensory information in order to represent
and understand the environment (Wikipedia, 2014). . Perception refers to
individuals view of level of understanding of subject matter or things, an
individual perception of things will determine the type of attitude that will
be put on..According to Mukherjee (1998), the term attitude refers to one’s
feelings, thought and predisposition to behave in some popular manner towards
some aspect of one’s environment.
Attitude is the liking or disliking of an object based on what is known
about it (Rameela, 2004). Attitude have a strong influences on people perception
of the things around them and help to determine their likes and dislikes.
Falaye and Ayoola (2006) pointed out that student attitude toward practical
agricultural science is largely determined by their erroneous perception and
misconception of the profession as the major livelihood option for the resource
poor farmers who have no other
meaningful sustenance to earn a living. This myopic view has rather dampened
the student moral and attitude without realizing that scientific and
technological innovation that can
transform farming into a lucrative system business.
Gender
refers to the social meanings associated with being a male or a female,
including the construction of identities, expectations, behaviors and power
relationships that derive from social interactions (Ambe-Uva, Iwuchukwu &
Jibrin 2008) ).
Orji (2002) asserted that in Africa, especially in a traditional Nigerian
setting female and male sex roles are seen as mutually exclusive. For instance,
some professions like carpentry, engineering, woodwork, metalwork and
automobile engineering technologies are still regarded in some quarters as
no-go-area for women while nursing and catering profession are seen as
exclusive areas for women.
Gender difference in
students also dictates their perception and attitude toward learning of science
subject including agriculture science and other
vocational subject. Female students tend to show a dislike for science
subject like agricultural science that usually involve strenuous practical that
require physical exertion which is usually associated with fatigue and sometime
physical injuries (Adesoji,1999 and Ezewu,1981), Attitude of past
Administration in Nigeria towards Agriculture is very bad Although the present
administration of president Muhammadu Buhari administration is putting up a
positive effort towards agriculture in order to curb the problems of
unemployment, food shortage and to use the sector to diversify the economy of
the country and also make many Nigerians to be self-reliant (Federal Government
of Nigeria ,FGN 2016) which is one of
the aim of vocational agriculture.
Statements
of Problem
The role of Agriculture
to a nation cannot be underestimate ranging from availability of crops and
animals in market to food security among other. Agricultural science is a
practical oriented subject, the
approach to teaching of agricultural science in most secondary school is taught
theoretically and has failed to make an impression on the society
(Sekamu,2009). FRN (2009) pointed out that Nigeria schools should teach
practical skills, knowledge and value which will help school leavers to solve real
life problems. Learners learn better when they hear, see and touch which is the
principle of learning by doing, this principle is best achieved by engaging
oneself in practical activities (Osinem,2008).. However with modernization in
Agriculture ,there is a need to look into the perception and interest of
secondary school students in practical agricultural science in order
correct their wrong perception to the
aspect of agricultural science if they
have negative perception of the aspect
,since student perception of
things will determine their involvement in what the do and how well they
perform in such things .This study however, tries to investigate the perception
of senior secondary school student towards practical agricultural science.
Purpose
of the Study
The main purpose of this
study was to investigate the perception of secondary school student towards
practical agriculture in senior secondary school in Ilorin West Local
Government Area of Kwara State
The specific purpose of the study were to;
(i)
Identify how students perceive practical
agricultural science.
(ii)
Find out whether gender differences have
any significant effect on the attitude of secondary school students toward practical agricultural
(iii)
To determine whether students, perception
of practical agricultural science influenced
their choice of agricultural science
as a career.
(iv)
To verify student interest in practical agricultural science.
Research
Questions
Based on the purpose on
the study. The following research questions were formulated
This study was intended to find answer to
the following questions.
1.
What are the students perception of practical agricultural science
2.
Does gender difference has any significant
effect on student attitude toward practical agricultural science
3.
Dose gender perception of practical
agricultural science influence their choice of agricultural science as a career
4.
What are the students interest in practical
agricultural science
1.5 Research Hypotheses
The following null hypotheses (H0)
were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance
H01 There
is no significant difference between the perception of male and female students toward practical agriculture.
H02 There
is no significant differences between student gender on their attitude toward practical agricultural science
H03 There
is no significant differences between student perception of practical
agricultural science and their choice of agricultural science as a career.
H04 There
is no significant differences between the interest of male and female students
towards practical agricultural science
Scope
of the Study
This study is limited to all
secondary schools offering Agricultural science in Ilorin west LGA .All senior
secondary schools student offering agricultural science comprise the entire
scope of the study
Clarification
of Terms and Major Variables
The following terms and variables are
clarified operationally as used in this study
Perception:
Is the organization, identification, and interpretation of sensory information
.or conscious understanding of something.
Attitude:
is the disposition or state of mind about something.
Co-education:
this refers to school for both male and female.
Interest:
a great attention and concern given to something
Gender:
is
a social cultural phenomenon of division of people into male and female
School
Curriculum: this is an education programs prepared for formal
education programs in the school .It comprises all the subject and
extra-curriculum activities of the school.
Vocational
Education: Is the education that prepare people to
work in a trade, a craft ,as a technicians or
in professional vocation
Significance
of the Study
The outcome of the study would be of
utmost important to curriculum planners, school administrators, agricultural
science teachers, government, parents and students.
To
curriculum planner and developers, it would enable them to possess necessary
knowledge and disposition to develop scientific curricular that would encourage
practical. Agricultural science.
To
the school administrators it would provide information which would make them realize the importance of
practical agriculture and would
enable them to handle the aspect with care and
provide necessary things in term of human and material resource that
would make it teaching and learning effective,
To
the teachers it would make them to be aware of perception of students towards
practical agricultural science which will enable them to use different
strategies to motivate student interest in agricultural science.
To
the students it will make them to be aware that their perception and interest
on of things will greatly determine how
well they will perform and engage in such activities
To
the parents, it will help in educating those with wrong perception and
misconception that subject like agricultural science is meant for male alone, thereby
allowing their female children to engage in practical agricultural science
To
the government, it will help them to know the level of interest of students in
practical agricultural science which will make them to pump more resources in
term of human and materials resources into the aspect in order to use the
sector to diversify the economy of the nation, thereby reducing over dependence
of the country on oil sector.
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