THE IMPACT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE EDUCATION ON POLITICAL AWARENESS OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN ONDO STATE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Universities are considered the most important educational institutions, which work on raising the student’ level of awareness, so that universities have a significant role in the influence on generations in terms of forming the mentality and frame of scientific knowledge and education, which is consistent with the principles of the society. Thus, the university is an important tool to address the problems and imbalances that may be problematic in the community, and in order for the university to play its role, it should take into account the adequate philosophical, psychological and cognitive foundations. And when developing academic plans and courses , one should not ignore the importance of the social basis on the approach of developing courses as being influential on tutors , so that every society has its own peculiar habits, traditions and values as well as of the problems they are suering. The educational system is therefore responsible for preparing the necessary cadres to work in all social institutions, and the more attention given to the educational preparation of educators, the better learners and members of the community appear. This means that the curriculum plays a major role in the preparation of generations in consistent with the philosophy of the community by helping learners to understand the nature of society and its institutions, and that is surely aected by the understanding of the nature of society in terms of philosophy, culture and ambition, therefore curricula vary from one society to another, and may also dier in the same society in dierent
times. The degree of awareness of individuals in any community aects the development of the state. Man is both the means
and purpose for development, the more the individual in the community is aware of his abilities and potentials, so that the more contribution is manifested in the field of development. Awareness has a regulatory framework that influences educational institutions as having a leading role in the development, aiming at the creation of national development on a scientific basis. (Moussawi, 1990) The study of political awareness is needed for any democratic political construction that respects human rights and fundamental liberties. Hence, the study of the impact of teaching principles of political science as aecting the degree of political awareness of university students, training them to be leaders of tomorrow, and this is an important prerequisite for the success of the development plans. (Mohammad, 1999) This study may be considered the lead in examining the impact of teaching political science course on the political awareness of an important segment of the Nigerian society, which is a university student.
