Factors Affecting the Achievement of Senior High School Social Studies Lesson Objectives in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

Abstract

This paper uses questionnaires and observation guides to examine factors affecting the achievement of Senior High School Social Studies lesson objectives in the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select a sample size of twenty-four (24) teachers and One-hundred and twenty (120) students. A-24 item questionnaire and eight (8) detailed observation guides for teachers’ lesson presentation as well as a- sixteen (16) item questionnaire were used in the collection of data for the study. The study focused on the nature and purpose of Social Studies, academic and professional qualification of Social Studies teachers, class size, teaching-learning resources, methods and assessment procedures employed by teachers in teaching Social Studies and suggestions to improve the teaching of Social Studies for effective achievement of lessons objectives in the Senior High School. It is revealed from the results of the study that large numbers of teachers were academically qualified to teach at the Senior High School but majority of them did not posses professional qualification in Social Studies. Teaching of Social Studies was mostly done by the use of lecture and discussion methods without paying attention on the other methods of teaching Social Studies. Inadequate teaching learning materials, in-service training courses and inexperience of teachers were major challenges facing Social Studies teaching. The researcher recommended that deployment of teachers by GES should be strictly based on both academic and professional qualification in Social Studies. Regular in-service training should be organized and teachers should be encouraged to use appropriate teaching learning resources and methods and strategies in teaching Social Studies in the Senior High School.

Keywords: Social Studies, Citizenship Education, Qualification, Objectives and Goals