INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Education enhances comfortable and dignified life. It is responsible for the holistic development of individual and society. Education is an activity which helps students in obtaining needed information, ability, attitude, perception (Mirunalini and Anandan, 2012). The quality of a nation depends upon the quality of its citizens. The quality of the citizens depends upon the quality of education planners. However, the most significant factor is the quality of the teachers. It means that excellent and efficient teachers can change the fate of the nation. It is in the schools, colleges and universities that the development of the attitudes and dispositions necessary for the progressive life in a society takes place. Education is imparted by teachers. If the teacher is capable, energetic, mentally healthy and having positive attitude, it is well and good for the school. Federal republic of Nigeria ministry of education 2002) report stated. “we are convinced that the most important factor in the contemplated educational reconstruction is the teacher, his personal qualities, his educational qualifications, his professional training and the place that he occupies in the community.
Social studies are a study connected with all aspects of human beings to enable them due a fulfilled, comfortable life. It study people in relation to the social, academic, economic cultural, physical and psychological lives. It has to do with all round development of human beings to enable them become useful citizens in the society. Wesley in Kochhaar (2012) said social studies as those presentations of social sciences selected for instructional purposes applied to include anything pertinent to the immediate purpose of learning and adapted to the level of comprehension of the student. Abdu- Raheen (2011) observed that the objectives of social studies is yet to be achieved as a result of peer teaching and lack of or inadequacy of instructional materials to motivate students. Ofuani (2014) also attested to inadequacy of instructional materials and resources in all the schools sampled in his study.
Instructional materials are essential and significant tools needed for teaching and learning of school subjects to promote teachers efficiency and improve students’ performance. They make learning more interesting, practical, realistic and appealing. They also enable both teachers and students to participate actively and effectively in lesson sessions. They give room for acquisition for skills and knowledge and development of self confidence and self actualization. Therema (2010) defined teaching aids as those materials used in practical and demonstration in the class situation by students and teachers. Ikerionwu (2012) defined instructional materials as neither objects nor devices that assist the teacher to preset a lesson to the learner in a logical manner.
In his own perspective Fudege (2015) saw instructional materials as visual, audio- visual aids, concrete or non- concrete, used by teachers to improve the quality of teaching and learning activities in social studies. Agina-obue (2015) submitted that instructional materials of all kinds appeal to the sense organs during teaching and learning Isola (2010) also described instructional materials as objects or devices that assist the teacher to present their lessons logically and sequentially to the learners. Ohwagh Hunnu Abdu–Racherem (2014) acknowledged that instructional materials we such used by teachers to aid explanations and make learning of two subject matter understandable to the students during teaching and learning process.
Statement of the Problem
One of the major problems facing education sector in Nigeria is the low performance of secondary school students in both internal and external examinations. It has become a great concern for researchers, educators and all educational stake holders over the years. It was observed that students usually fail in examinations owning to improper teaching methods and lack of essential teaching aids for instructional delivery (Afolubi, 2009). This study therefore deems it necessary to look specifically into the influence of instructional materials in the teaching of social studies in the junior secondary schools in Isi uzo Local Government Area Enugu. The problem of this study therefore, what are the influences of using instructional materials in teaching of social studies in junior secondary school in Isi uzo Local Government Area Enugu.
Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to ascertain the influence of using instructional materials in the teaching and learning of social studies in junior secondary schools in Isi-uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State. Specifically, the study seeks to determine:
Significance of the Study
The following will benefit from this work: teachers, Curriculum Planners, Researchers and Educational Administrators.
Teachers: It will motivate Social studies teachers to develop interest towards utilizing suitable teaching materials that will be a possible means towards reducing failure in the teaching and learning of social studies. Findings of this study will help clarify among the teachers the need for continuous and regular improvisation of suitable instructional materials for teaching and learning of social studies.
Curriculum Planners: Moreover, the results of this study will be of great significance to the Social studies curriculum planners. The curriculum developers will find the work useful in reviewing the Social studies curriculum by seriously laying emphasis on utilization of instructional materials so as to meet up with emerging needs of the society.
Researchers: This study will be of immense benefit to researchers in the field of Social studies by forming a basis for further studies on the usage of instructional materials and teachers’ quality in order learning aspects of Social studies as a subject.
Educational Administrators: The study will also equip our educational administrators in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOEST), educational test and measurement experts on the need to provide instructional materials for teaching Social studies in our secondary schools setting particularly in selected secondary schools and the Isi-uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State as a whole. The study will also be useful in educational policy making. The research will arouse instructional educational funding agencies such as Federal Ministry of Education, Faculties or Schools of Education, National Teachers’ Institutes as well as professional bodies such as Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) to formulate educational polices which may be useful in implementation of Social studies curriculum.
Scope of the Study
The focus of this study is on influence of using instructional materials in the teaching and learning of social studies in junior secondary schools in Isi-uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Research Questions
In order to achieve the objectives of this study, the following research questions were formulated to guide this study.