ABSTRACT
This project investigated the influence of Extra mural Classes on student Academic performance in Social Studies in Junior Secondary Schools in Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State. The cardinal purpose of this project was to find out the influence of extramural classes on students’ Academic performance, and to ascertain if the purpose of introducing extramural classes into the educational system has been achieved. In order to achieve the purpose of this study, a self designed Teacher Questionnaire on the project title was used to gather information from teachers. The systematic random sampling technique was used to collect data of fiy teachers from ten Junior Secondary Schools in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. The responses gathered from the teachers were analysed using chi-square analysis to examine the influence of extramural classes on students Academic performances. From the findings, it was discovered that students who attend extramural classes, are well engaged, and make good use of their extra time. This exercise help permanent learning, which is reflected in their Academic performance in School.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
Education is seen as a tool of transformation. It is also a process of transformation. According to the website Dictionary, education is the act or process of educating as determined by the knowledge, skill or discipline of character acquired, also the act or process of training by a prescribed or customary course of study. Patti (2009) also defined education as an act or process of impacting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the power of reasoning and judgment and generally of developing ones self or others intellectually for mature life. Education or being educated, involves all senses being exposed to a series of stimulate which will enhance and grow the mental activity of someone, to active a set of, or a specific objective (Akualtines 2001).
The National of policy on Education (NPE 2004) also defined Education as an instrument “par excellent” for eecting national development. In pursuance of goals of making education a tool of national development, the government came up with the following national goal. A free and democratic society; A just and egalitarian society; A great and dynamic society; A land full of bright opportunity for all; The aims and objectives of education are to instill the basic and necessary discipline, value, skill, and attitude to all facilities of the individuals, that is, to produce an individual who is honest, skilled, respective, co-operative and confound to the society ‘s norm and ethics of the day (NPE 2004). The importance of education is recognized by all educational, professional, political, non-political and religious associations, organization and groups at various levels in their memorandum, letters, and brochures. The aims and objectives of education are the following: I. Individual Development: the developments of an individual physically, mentally and spiritually. Developing physical and mental faculties. II. Developing child’s character, personality and culture. III. Social norms and national development: Developing a sense of national identity, unity and patriotism. IV. Social Transformation: Education is aim at not only adjusting an individual in the society but also to bring about desirable changes in the society. V. Acquisition of value. In attempt to achieve these educational goals and objectives, the governments and policy makers designated some subjects at the junior secondary level (JSS) to lower some aspect of learning experience that can help to achieve National goals of Education. Some of the important subjects were considered to be core subject. One of such subjects is social studies (2004 edition of NPE). Social studies as a field of study according to fageyinbo 2000 is a study that deals with man and various possible interaction between him and his environment and the possible outcomes from such, which make him to understand, interpret, manipulate, and adjust within, with or to such environment. The National council for social studies (2009) further defined social studies as the integrated study of the social science and humanities to promote civic competence.
According to the National Curriculum Conference on social studies (NCCS) social studies provides coordinates, systematic study, drawing upon discipline such as anthropology, economics, geography, history, law, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion and sociology as well as appropriate content from the humanity in mathematics, and natural science. The primary purpose of social studies at the junior secondary school level is to the help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decision for the public good as citizens of culturally diverse, and democratic society in an interdependent world. The National Curriculum Conference (1969) enunciated the following aims of social studies in Nigeria schools. I. To help student identify how Nigeria became a nation, and the need to continue to build a nation and II. To help students understand and appreciate democracy including the duties of a citizen to democratic. To help students acquire a sense of Social responsibility that recognize one’s worth and the dignity and worth of others. The wide field coverage and electric nature of Social Studies (Fageyinbo 2004), the decline in the standard of Education, the politization of education, the consistent government policies to mention a few, because hindrances to achieving all these stated aims and objectives of education and Social Studies (Ogunro 2009). In striving to revive the falling standard of education, several eorts were made by the government, schools, parents and other state holders which include training and re-training of Social Studies teachers, equipping school library with Social Studies text books, production and constant review of Social Studies text books, however, persistence poor academic performance in Social Studies, is an indication that these eorts did not make desired impact. Further attempts to improve the situation include the use of extramural classes.
Extramural classes according to the Webster Dictionary are outside usual study courses/subjects outside or additional to the usual courses/subjects at a University, College, other educational institution (including School), though usually connected with them. They are also educational activities that took place outside the walls or boundaries of the school., though usually connected with them. They are also educational activities that took place outside the walls or boundaries of the school. Extramural classes could be inform of after school hours classes, private home classes, outside school lesson or even break time lesson (usually arranged by the parents (s) of the child (ren) with the teachers). One notable features of the Nigeria education system that began way back, extramural classes hand gradually grows, along side the mainstream education, where students attend or more strictly speaking, need to attend, extramural classes with the belief to acquire knowledge that they do not appear to obtain during their hours in schools. These extramural have became widespread in Nigeria, especially in urban areas.
