THE ATTITUDE OF STUDENTS TOWARDS THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF GEOGRAPHY (EDUCATION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
A lot of students today do not realize the usefulness and importance of geography as a subject in our secondary schools. Hence many tend to have a wrong notion and perception, many tend to be scared of reading it as a course and discipline.
Geography as a subject covers various fields of study and discipline in science and social sciences of which can be of great help to individuals, students, companies and government economically. Presently, majority of the educationists in our society see the need and worth of geography and hence the demand for geography teachers are high in our secondary schools. Geography, which describes the earth’s surface, has drawn such as geology, meteorology, astronomy, anthropology and biology. Geography is the science of spatial intention or the study of the process by which forms and phenomena intact through their spatial arrangement on the earth surface.
According to section 4 (6A) of the revised national policy on education (1981), geography has been listed as one of the core subjects at the SSCE level. Students are expected to select one of literature in English, history and geography as the core subject.
Hammend (1979) says among other things geography helps man to do the following,
- Master his environment that si the physical, biotic, economic, social cultural and political environment.
- Develop a systematic understanding of other people lands.
iii. Develop an understanding and sense of responsibility towards his own society and equated appreciation of both local, natural and world problem.
- Develop one’s ability of observation, imagination, memory judgement and reasoning which help one in every day life.
- Above all geography is a discipline that aids one’s training in specific skill and a variety of career prospects and job opportunities.
However, in spite of the above-enumerated important position that geography holds in every day life and in the academic world, it is unfortunate that little cognizance has always been taken of students’ attitude towards the subject.
Archar (1977) stated that geography span almost the full range of the social sciences. Geography embodies all major discipline in the social science like economics, political science and pure science like physics, chemistry biology and agricultural sciences also have a meeting point in geography.
Okpolama (1977) said ‘the study of geography in Nigeria school is gradually declining when compared to other arts or social sciences and science subjects.
It is against this background therefore, that this study is initiated to find out the possible factors that are influencing the learning of geography.
