ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GEOGRAPHY CURRICULUM IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the availability and adequacy of Geography instructional resources in senior secondary schools in Osun State. It also examined the instructional strategies being employed by Geography teachers in teaching and learning in the classroom. Furthermore, the study assessed the quality of teachers in terms of qualification, content knowledge and years of experience in the state. These were with the view to providing information on the implementation of the Geography Curriculum in Senior Secondary Schools in Osun State. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The population consisted of all Geography teachers in senior secondary schools in Osun State. Eighty (80) Geography teachers constituted the sample for the study. Two instruments were used for data collection. These are the Instructional Resources and Strategies Observation Checklist (IRSOC) and Teaching Personnel Questionnaire (TPQ). Data collected were analyzed using frequency count and percentages. The results showed that instructional resources were not readily available for use. Globe (73.33%), Topographical map (83.33%), Atlas (93.33%), and Geography textbooks (100%) were resources that are available while Chart of Weather Symbols (60%), Globe (72.72%), Geography Textbooks (76.67%), Topographical maps (80%) and Wall maps (100%) were adequate in schools the resources were available. However, the instructional strategy employed by Geography teachers were peer tutoring (3.33%), group activity strategy (6.67%), inquiry (30%), demonstration strategy (36.67%) and expository strategy (100%). On the quality of Geography teachers in the state, the study showed that 57.50% studied Geography as a course while 6.25%, 10%, 11.25% and 15% studied Sociology, Urban and Regional Planning, Demography and Statistics and Geology, respectively. The study concluded that instructional resources, as well as instructional strategies employed by Geography teachers in Senior Secondary Schools in Osun State, were inadequate.