AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROBLEMS OF TEACHING BUSINESS SUBJECTS IN JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

1.1 Introduction

Business Studies is that aspect of vocational education that focuses on the development of the students with the acquisition of skills needed to satisfy human wants, the attitude of students towards the subject should be studied both by the school counselors and business teachers in our secondary schools in order to help them to have right disposition towards those Business Studies subjects. It is obvious that business transactions are growing within and outside the country, the acquisition of business skills is more important now than ever. It is unfortunate, however, that these secondary school students are not taking this global challenges seriously. They rather prefer studying arts subjects to commercial subjects. A number of secondary school students both at J.S.S. and S.S.S. do not want to have anything doing with Business subjects.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Business Studies has been discussed as a social science discipline which ought to be taught in all post primary schools in Nigeria as stated by the National Policy on Education. Business Studies is made up of a number of subject areas. In other words, it is an integration of many subjects, it is offered as an integrated subject at the Junior Secondary level comprising, office practice, commerce, shorthand, typewriting and book-keeping. However, at the Senior Secondary level, the subjects are separated into shorthand, typewriting, economics, book-keeping and accounting with a view to providing career options.

As a result of growing school leavers the Nigeria government introduced the new national policy on education in 1981. A major provision of this policy was the introduction of the teaching of business education subjects at the junior secondary school level with emphasis on the acquisition of practical skills, values and knowledge that would enable individuals like in the society.

One of the rational for the emphasis on business subject is the fact that is skilled subject, which would equip its graduates with the needed skills for gainful employment even if they terminate their formal education at the junior secondary school level. ome basic necessity for the achievement of this would ensure that course are taught according to the curriculum and using appropriate methodologies for the subjects.

Moreover, this stems for the fact that ou country has experienced a marked growth in different business fields. So there is the urgent need to improve the business education system in order to meet up with the new demands and requirements for the jobs. That is to say that it has become manifest that the health of any national largely depends on is human resource.

The more human resource out capital and other resources into material resource that determine the nature and rate of economic and social development; the new national policy on education in Nigeria now place emphasis on the study of vocational subjects particularly at this level comprises, the following subjects: typewriting shorthand, office practice, commerce bookkeeping and English.

The (NBTE) Business Studies curriculum had several features that were intended to produce teachers who be adequately suited for teaching Bossiness Studies at the secondary school level. Courses were specified in modules with the performance objectives for each module clearly specified common core subject which every student had to study for the first 2 years, were specified. Specialization in either accounting or secretarial options was reserved for the third and final year.

However, when the (National Commission for college of Education (NCCE), inherited the N.C.E curriculum from the NBTE in 1990, it decided to shed most of the features of the N.C.E curriculum as developed by the latter. For instance, the modular structure and course specifications, as well as a statement of objectives were abandoned. What can be seen, therefore, as a serious weakness in the National Commission for college of education curriculum for teachers of Business Studies is that of stating course outlines in syllabus context. This, certainly, can hardly help in experienced students/teachers who need guidance in formulating their lesson objectives appropriately.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to investigate the Problems of Teaching Business Subjects in Junior Secondary Schools.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that, the problems in teaching Business Studies like any other subject have been attributed to the lack of materials for teaching; sometimes some teachers are not qualified to teach the subject. In some cases however, there are qualified teachers but they lack the necessary teaching materials without, which efforts, become futile. Also sometimes the student or learner are rather not interested in the subject and hence they perform below expectation.

It is worthy to note that the method of teaching employed by the teacher may render the subject uninteresting. This is simply because, a good teacher with a bad method of teaching gets a poor result. This study investigates both the Problem and Prospects of teaching Business Studies.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to investigate the Problems of Teaching Business Subjects in Junior Secondary Schools. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To find out the extent to which the teaching of business subjects is being funded.
2. To determine which facilities are adequately provided for teaching of business subjects.
3. To find out the extent to which adequate and qualified teachers are available for teaching business subjects.
4. To find out whether the time allotted for the teaching of business subjects and the method used are adequate and effective respectively.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• To what extent is the teaching of business subjects adequately funded?
• To what extent are teaching facilities provided for teaching business subjects?
• What are the facilities provided for teaching of business subjects in Junior Secondary School in the study area?
• What are the time allotted for the teaching of business subjects and the method used are adequate and effective respectively?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: Investigation into the problem of teaching business subject in junior secondary school has not contributed to the problem of teaching business subject in secondary school.
• H1: Investigation into the problem of teaching business subject in junior secondary school has contributed to the problem of teaching business subject in secondary school.

Hypothesis Two

• H0: Government or individual has not played any important role towards, investigation into the problem of teaching business subject in junior secondary school
• H1: Government or individual has played any important role towards, investigation into the problem of teaching business subject in junior secondary school

1.7 Significance of Study

The study requires little thinking discovering that this research will be of immense benefit to Anambra state ministry of education. It will enable them to become aware of the problem that exists in Orumba north & south local government area, with a view to improve situation.

The findings in the study will also contribute in this little way to the feedback which the federal government will received on the implementation of her National policy on Education and this feedback will help the government to decide when and where modification are necessary in the new national educational policy.

Parent and guardian will discover from the findings of this research parent the problem encountered by their children in the learning of business subject and will therefore, take steps through their parents/teachers association of Orumba north & south local government area will probably be the first to appreciate the contribution of this research. It can be seen that research findings will be of great significant to a variety of people.

1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Problem Investigation of Teaching Business Subjects in Junior Secondary Schools. This research work, covers of the junior secondary schools in Orumba North/South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

1.10 Definition of Terms

Teaching: Is the act of impacting knowledge into human beings, either orally or practical, according to Google teaching is idea or principle taught by an authority.

Business Studies: This study of business is about how individual and group of people organize, plan and act to create and develop goods & service to satisfy customers.

Business: The study of the management of individuals organizing to maintain collective productivity toward accomplishing particular creative and productive goals (usually to generate profit).