EFFECTS OF SCHOOL MAPPING ON TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN BARKIN-LADI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background to the Study

Quality education is now an issue of global concern. As the Nigerian stakeholder’s attention is increasingly focused on the outcomes of education, policy makers have undertaken a wide range of reforms to improve schools and schooling, ranging from setting new standards and tests to redesigning of schools, new curricula and new instructional strategies. Rising expectations about what students should know and be able to do, break-through in research on how children learn, and the increasing diversity of the student population have all put significant pressure on the knowledge and skill teachers must have to achieve the ambitious goal demanded of public education. That goal is to ensure that children of all backgrounds master a demanding core curriculum and other materials that will prepare them to assume their civic and social responsibilities in a democratic society, and be able to compete within the global economy.

It is expected that educational system will produce the quality and quantity of human resources required for the economy’s growth using the right mix inputs. Ibukun (2009) affirmed that no nation or society can rise above the quality of her education. The immeasurable contribution of education in the development process has left a burning desire in every government to increase access to education for all her citizens. (Ibukun, 2003; Brock, 2006) opined that investigation in basic education and training is an ingredients to human capacity building such capacity, they noted is the foundation needed to realize increased productivity, most importantly technological innovation. The direction of education toward national economic growth and development was an important basic for the introduction of Universal Basic Education (U.B.E) programme. Hence education opportunities and their expansion provide the base for national economic development, Individual economic welfare and also narrows social inequalities by promoting a meritocratic basic for status attainment in which the talented can rise to appropriate position in the economy regardless of social background (Hunnum and Buchmann, 2005).

 School mapping is an important planning technique to arrive at a rational decision regarding the distribution of educational facilities across different geographical locations; the term “school mapping” seemingly implies that the exercise is confirmed to the location of schools and distribution of school facilities. Tolutope (2011) Defined school mapping as a process of identifying the educational need of a community through investigation and survey exercise. It is a set of techniques and procedures used to plan the demand for school places at the local level and to decide the institutional level. It is the geographical location of the school. It is not only concerned with the drawing of maps but deals with the school location, planning, the distribution of sizes, spacing of schools and school facilities.

            School mapping is an important planning technique to arrive at rational decision regarding distribution of educational facilities across different geographical locations; the term “school mapping” seemingly implies that the exercise is confirmed to location of schools and distribution of school facilities. Tolutope (2011) Defined school mapping as a process of identifying the educational need of a community through investigation and survey exercise. It is a set of techniques and procedures used to plan the demand for school places at the local level and to decide the institutional level. It is the geographical location of school. It is not only concerned with the drawing of maps, but deals with school location, planning, the distribution of sizes, spacing of schools and school facilities.

The subject of teaching and learning had received considerable attention from the public as well as educators. Educators are faced today with a growing challenge of providing quality teaching and learning. At the same time, educators were held accountable for students’ achievement (Alabi, 2018).

It is in line with the above disccussions that this study seeks to examine the effects of school mapping on teaching and learning in secondary schools in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

            Equalization of education opportunities is a necessary condition to promote faster progress of education. Creation of easy access condition to schools or their alternatives becomes a necessity and essential step toward provision of equal opportunities for secondary schools. However, the distribution of senior secondary schools within the state is not equitable and this has resulted to lack of access to quality education.

Quality teaching is necessary for effective learning process (Szuba and Young (2003). Provision and distribution of school facilities are the corporate responsibility of the government and non-governmental organizations. The unending attention which the quality of teaching and learnings have continued to receive from scholars in the field of education is a pointer to the necessity for it.

Available literature revealed that quality teaching and learning are required for effective production of quality citizens. Some literature further revealed that the individual schools determine the type and qualities of teaching needed. The quality of teaching often needed in schools include, teacher’s ability to manage classroom effectively, teacher’s ability to effectively deliver lesson, teacher’s subject mastery, etc. All of which are necessary for achieving the quality learning in schools. Therefore, the thrust of this study put in a question form is that; what is the effects of school mapping on teaching and learning in secondary schools in Barkin-Ldi Local Government Area?

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of school mapping on teaching and learning in secondary schools in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State. Specifically, the study intends to:

1. Identify the nature of school mapping in the study area.
2. Examine the extent to which school mapping affects access to quality teaching and learning.
3. Identify factors affecting access to teaching and learning in secondary schools in Barkin-Ladi.
4. Examine measures Plateau State Government has taken to enforce good school mapping

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions were formulated to guide the study:

1. What is the nature of school mapping in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State?
2. How does school mapping affect access to quality education in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State?
3. What factors affect the access to quality education in the study area?
4. What measures has Plateau State Government taken to enforce good school mapping?

1.5 Significance of the Study

            This research becomes necessary as the outcomes would be a guide to the school planners and administrators to be able to identify the extent of the status, distribution or mapping of secondary schools in the state. It is hoped that the findings of this study would help to guide the policy makers and educational managers in regards to those things that need to be put in place to make learning attractive.

It is also expected that the findings will also help educationist. The education policy makers are not left out in the scheme of significance of this study.  It will help to redirect their policy towards adequate and effective employment of qualified teachers. To the school authorities and teachers, it is expected that the study will help to further emphasize the indispensible role of quality teaching.

Students of secondary schools in Barkin-Ladi will benefit from this study because the quality of teaching will mould them into quality citizens. Finally, when this study is concluded, it will serve as a data bank for further research studies.

1.6. Scope of the Study

            This study covers the effects of school mapping on teaching and learning in secondary schools. The study is restricted to secondary schools in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State. It shall therefore, examine the nature of school mapping, examine the extent to which school mapping affects access to quality teaching and learning, identify factors affecting access to teaching and learning in secondary schools in Barkin-Ladi and examine measures Plateau State Government has taken to enforce good school mapping. Despite the fact that the study is restricted to the selected state and Local Government, the findings will be generalized to other parts of the State and country at large.

1.7 Operational Definition of Terms

School Mapping:-It is a process of identifying the educational needs of a community through investigation and survey exercise. Normally an exercise which is undertaken usually after a survey of all existing so that the deficiencies are pin-pointed for taking corrective measures.  

Access to education: is the opportunity to participate in education sector.

Quality: The degree at which education-n is acquired by an individual. This implies the ability or degree with which an educational system conforms to the established standard and appropriateness of the inputs available for the delivery of the system.