THE EFFECTS OF QUALIFICATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS ON THE POOR PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS (A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED SCHOOLS IN BADAGRY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA)
ABSTRACT
The study was designed to find out if the qualification of the English teachers has direct or indirect bearing on the performance of the students in English language. The topic was built on the assumption, apparently shared by most people especially our educational policy makers, that any fluent speaker or native speaker of English automatically becomes an effective English teacher. Selected secondary schools within Badagry local government area of Lagos state were used for this study. Questionnaires were used were used for data collection. The responses were analyzed using simple statistical methods. The study found out that teachers’ qualifications do affect students’ performance. Recommendations were made on how to improve on the quality of teachers already in the classroom.
Key words: effect, qualification, teachers, performance, school students, external examinations
word count: 123
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Abstract v
Table of contents vi
CHAPTER ONE
- Introduction 1
- Background of the study 3
1.2 Statement of the problem 6
1.3 Significance of the study 7
1.4 Research questions 8
- Research hypothesis. 9
1.6 Objectives of the study 9
1.7 Scope of the study 10
1.8 Limitations of the study 10
1.9 Operational definitions 11
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature review 12
2.1.1 The Place of Qualified Teachers As Factor
In Effective Teaching 13
2.1.2 Influence of Lack of Qualified Teachers
In Our Secondary Schools 16
2.1.3 Impact of Professional Teachers In Our
Educational System 21
2.1.4 The Effect of Inadequate of Teaching
Facilities on the Academic Performance
of Students 28
2.1.5 English language in the curriculum 30
2.1.6 The Importance of English Language 33
2.1.7 The Concept of Gender 35
2.1.8 Gender Difference and Performance 38
2.1.9 Performance of Secondary School in
English Language Examination 43
2.1.10 Factors Responsible for Students Poor
Performance in English 46
2.2 Summary remarks 54
CHAPTER THREE
- Methodology 59
3.1 Research design 59
3.2 Population of the study 60
3.3 Area of the study 60
3.4 Sample and sampling technique 60
3.5 Instrument for data collection 61
3.6 Method of data collection 61
3.7 Validation of the instrument 61
3.8 Method of data analysis 62
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
- Introduction 63
4.1 Presentation and analysis of data 64
4.2 Discussion of findings 73
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary 76
5.2 Conclusion 76
5.3 Recommendations 77
References 80
Appendix 83
CHAPTER ONE
- Introduction
English as a language plays a number of roles in the socio-economic, political and cultural development of Nigeria society.
The continued slide in the performance of students in the English language in external examinations is a cause for great concern not only for the teachers but also for all stake holders in the business of education. This is more worrisome when one considers the fact that English doubles as a medium of instruction in Nigerian schools as well as our lingua franca. The central role of English cannot, therefore, be wished away.
The pattern of failure has, however, shown that the incidence appears to be higher in some schools than it is with other schools. A number of factors have been linked to the causes but more relevant is the issue of qualification of the teachers. This is more important because in the business of teaching and learning, teachers offer only what they have; you cannot offer what you don’t have.
The qualification of teachers involved in teaching and learning has great roles in the performance of students and it is to find out these effects that this study is set out to accomplish.
Chomsky (1972) “states that one can not really teach a language but can only present the conditions in which it will develop spontaneously in the mind in its own ways”
Language is something, which is internalized in the mind of the individual. The question of who should teach English effectively in a second language situation needs special consideration.
The search for a worth while answer has formed the basis of the topic of this project. “The effects of the qualification of English teachers on the performance of secondary school students in external examinations, in selected secondary schools, A case study of the selected school in Badagry local Government Area of Lagos state”.
- Background of the study
Teachers are recognized as the main pillars of our educational system. It is pertinent to mention here that ineffective and poor teaching of some key subject in the school curriculum have continued to do some havoc by shattering the hopes and aspiration of most students, especially the very ambitious ones. Most students have desired to become specialists in the field of knowledge or other fields but could not make the grade in the basic examinations that should have given them entry into higher institution such as the University.
The effort made by the Nigerian government to increase the supply of qualified teachers because of the effects the lack of qualified teachers has on the academic performance of students cannot be overstated. The Bachelor Degree in education was introduce in almost all the universities in Nigeria in a bid to provide more trained teachers for effective teaching and learning which will in turn influence the performance of students in both the Urban and rural area colleges programmes were modified and enriched which gave way to a new certificate, National certificate of Education. These programmes provide the trained teachers for the lower form of secondary schools.
In addition to the above mention measure, the federal government has upgraded some colleges of education such as Alvan Ikoku college of Education to a degree awarding institution which thus provides Nigeria Certificate of Education and degree certificate simultaneously.
It is recognized that qualified are not necessary reliable indicator of the performance of individual teachers qualification, is only indicating teaching for specific jobs (Lillis 1988: 77). This is to explain the above statement as an indication based on the fart that good teachers are those who give students what they need and not measure mainly on qualifications. Commenting on the general condition of teachers training colleges. It could be said, without exception that the provision of training centres has been inadequate and in some areas it does not exist.
To Lewis (1956) He emphasized that the most cases, the potential teachers had nothing more than a primary education and often than not, had to work under a supervising teacher already fully employed with his or her own class. There is a relationship between the quality of the teaching personnel and the quality of the education system or process (Ukeje 1978: 88) He submitted that the defeats of the present Nigeria educational system are partly as the result of teachers with poor quality. For him the real value of a sound education principle lies in its effective implementation and in the final analysis, it is the teachers who translate theory into practice. In his own words, the quality of the school and that of the teaching personnel can create a vicious circle for we cannot have good schools unless we have good teachers and we cannot have good teachers unless we have good school to produce them. One of the problems has been inequitable posting of teachers in favour of our urban secondary schools. Since the communities have been encouraged by the government to build neighborhood secondary schools. It is only fair that adequate manpower and infrastructure should be provided in all schools and their places of location
1.2 Statement of the problem
It is assumed that only those who have professional training in English language should teach English language. The English teacher should be the one whose competence and proficiency in all the language skills are in a good measure. But especially in written and conversational English, is not deficient. The English teacher should have a good knowledge of current usage and the theoretical aspects of English.
In Nigeria today, most students in secondary schools and infact even in universities lack the ability to communicate efficiently in English, both oral and written.
Adekunle (1969) “maintains that it is in putting down their ideas on paper in grammatical English that most secondary school and university students have greatest difficulty”. This situation has not changed over the years. This is still the major problem faced by English students today. It is therefore important to find out if the qualification of the English teachers has any effect on the performance of the students in written and spoken English.
1.3 Significance of the study
This study will serve as a pointer to the ministry of education to verify whether the qualification of teachers has any effect on the student performance in senior secondary school certificate examination (SSCE). The finding will also help people who want to conduct such research to serve as reference.
1.4 Research questions
The above questions are what this researcher is setout to find out solution to the following questions;
- How teacher’s qualification effect the student’s practical demonstration of the language skill since the language cannot really be taught?
- How important teacher’s are in the language development?
- Can the general low performance of students be related to teacher’s qualification?
- Does the untrained teacher encounter move problem than the trained teachers in the language teaching situation?
- Research hypothesis
- Teachers’ qualification affects the student’s performance in (SSCE) examination.
- Students do not learn properly from the instruction of untrained teachers.
- Professional training is necessary for one to be a good teacher.
- In Nigeria, unqualified teachers can be linked to the general low performances recorded in SSCE English language examination by our students due to poor teaching.
1.6 Objectives of the study
The purpose of this study is to find out the teachers qualification on students performance in senior secondary school certificate examination (SSCE). The study also tries to assess the validity of the assumption that any fluent speaker of English can teach the subject and attempt to explore ways of English. The learning of English can be enhanced and how to improve on the quality of the English teachers already in the classroom.
1.7 Scope of the study
Although the subject matter of this study is considered to be of global significance, however, for the sake of this study the researcher has chosen to limit the study to some selected schools in the Badagry local government area of Lagos state. This research has been carried out to the best knowledge and ability irrespective of the under listed limitations.
1.8 Limitations of the study
The problem of finance, especially this period of harsh economic condition constituted a great handicap to a study of this nature. The study also involves traveling to school, distribution and collection of questionnaire and other vital data for the work.
The researcher is also limited because she is a student who still has other academic engagement as well as the research work. All these constitute great problems to the researcher.
1.9 Operational definitions
The terms used in the topic are defined as follows:
- Teacher’s qualification, teachers academic and professional qualification in English;
The degree of mastery of the English language skills, the teaching techniques and methods used, the teacher’s attitude towards the learners and the ability to identify students needs of each stage of language development, it also covers the degree of preparedness of the English language teachers.
- Student’s performance;
The student’s practical demonstration of comprehension language skill as specified by the English syllabus.