CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Teaching refers to the art of helping others learn effectively. Therefore, in order to examine problems of teaching practical agriculture in junior secondary schools in Abak Local Government Area, it is pertinent, therefore to define the concept “teaching – learning process”. Teaching-learning process is the process that involves a vast array of interventional processes at the centre of which is the teacher whose role remains pivotal to the success of any educational programmes. Eddie (2001) observed that Effective curriculum implementation which manifest in the process of instruction by the teacher involve the utilization of various principles to which a professionally skilled and competent teacher must acquaint himself with the following: preparation of the lesson, in-depth knowledge of the subject matter, intelligent use of instructional strategies, clarity in stating objectives, the use of instructional materials, creating a conducive atmosphere, need of integrating of knowledge, following a sequence, knowledge to sustain the learner’s interest, need to involve appropriate evaluation techniques and finally need for task enrichment. The foregoing therefore implies that, teachers are the major determinants of the quality of education and products from our schools. Therefore, teachers need to be academically sound before they can implement any subject matter.
Practical agriculture is one of the major subjects that has been mistaken by young people to be a subject for dropouts or the never-do-well in the society and a profession for poor people. Young people also prefer white collar jobs where they can dress impressively and thereby neglect it much benefits which cannot be overemphasized. These young people always look at the negative aspect of practical agriculture and forgetting it positive aspect which has overwhelmed it negative aspect.
Izuka (2000) holds that agricultural science involves the academic and practical study of materials source energy and natural phenomena with the science of man. This therefore means that practical agriculture should be given a more prominent place in the school curriculum. More often, people have searched for ways and means to make life comfortable and for different, but it only practical agriculture that the knowledge and skill gained from the science would provide procedure that will make life more meaningful to man, of which include: improved food production technology, distribution system of food to meet with the ever increasing population of the people in our society, better clothing, social and more comfortable means of transportation and good health facilities etc. In fact, the benefits of practical agriculture are innumerable. That is why there is hardly no human activity that agriculture has not made its impacts upon and that will continue to make its impacts.
