Problems of Teaching and Learning of Practical Agriculture: A Case Study of Junior Secondary Schools in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria

Author

Festus Nnamdi, Onyenakazi Gift Onyinyechi, Helen A. Egwuonwu, Chukwunezu Amarachi Euphemia, Okoro Ogadinma Patrick

Abstract

 The study examined the problems of teaching and learning of practical agriculture in junior secondary schools in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State. The study was guided by five (5) research questions. The study adopted descriptive research design. The sample of this study consists of 225 Students and 25 Teachers which is in total 250. The sample was gotten from five schools out of nine government schools in Ekwusigo L.G.A using Simple random Sampling technique. A 25 item, modified 4-point rating scale constructed by the researcher was used to collect data for answering the five research questions. The instrument was validated by three Specialists in measurement and evaluation. Mean score and standard deviation were used to answer the research question. A grand mean of 2.50 and above was used to indicate "Agree" whereas below 2.50 indicates "Disagree". The grand mean scores of all data collected ranges from 1.84 to 2.31. It was found, among others, that unqualified teachers teaching Practical Agriculture is a problem of teaching and learning of Practical Agriculture, short time allotted for teaching and learning of Practical Agriculture is not adequate for the Subject, over population of Students is a problem of teaching and learning of Practical Agriculture, poorly equipped laboratory and non-availability of farmland makes it difficult and ineffective for teaching and learning of Practical Agriculture. The research recommended, among others, that government should provide sufficient instructional materials for teaching and learning of Practical Agriculture, Students and their Parents should be made to know and understand the careers in Agriculture so as to encourage the teaching and learning of the subject, school authorities should set aside funds purposely for the teaching and learning of Practical Agriculture in their schools.

Keywords

Practical Agriculture; Agricultural Education; Teaching and Learning; Junior Secondary Schools; Agricultural Science Teachers; Instructional Materials; School Facilities; Ekwusigo Local Government Area; Anambra State.

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