Teachers Challenges in Nigerian Public Secondary …

1 Science Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Published By ISSN: 2276-6359 Science Journal Publication International Open Access Publisher Author(s) 2012. CC Attribution License. Research Article doi: Teachers Challenges in Nigerian Public Secondary Schools climate : implications on Students Dropouts By Awwalu Muhammad Inuwa , Student, Sociology of Education school of Educational Studies University Sains Malaysia 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia &. Najeemah Bint Mohammad Yusof (Ph. D). school of Educational Studies Universiti Sains Malaysia 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia Accepted 17 October, 2012. Abstract- This paper discusses the Challenges Nigerian Teachers are facing in the relationship of school climate as a factors influencing Public Secondary schools [Government owned schools] and its effects on the success or failure of education to Teachers and students present rising students dropouts.

2 Secondary school in Nigeria is an (Adesina 2011; Anderson, Hamilton & Hattie 2004). educational stage to be attended by students after primary school and before tertiary institutions. This is a period for youth direction on subject specialization, leading to issues of professionalization base on subject Among the task of the school is the socialization and educating compartmentalization and choice of higher institution. The significance youths. This makes family (Home) to commit children to attached to this requires productive school climate with efficient resources schooling process (Aggarwal, 2006). The Nigeria Public for teaching and learning.

3 Nigeria Public Secondary schools climate are facing the Challenges of inadequate professional capability, poor school preparatory Secondary school is posing unending social challenge to ground and absence of facilities to cater for students. In terms of curriculum teacher 's professional standard, which affects their abilities contents there is a total mismatch between stated policy on education and for human modification, cultural reproduction, social the provision of teaching facilities and structural preparation. These over recreation, innovation and social placement to suit industrial stretched Public Secondary school problems which cannot be managed by authority and be accepted by education clients had led to frequent development (Nwagwu, 2008; Reddy & Sinhas, 2010.)

4 Absenteeism, poor performance and constant student's dropout. This easily Fafunwa, 2004).This requires more of Teachers effort and predicts the future of unproductive youths and these classes of citizens will adequate school instructional facilities. Teachers are charged be unskilled and unproductive. Thus, Teachers are strongly finding it difficult with the responsibilities of re-creation, conservation and to meet up to the expectations of teaching profession, because the school climate is not conducive for both teaching [ teacher ] and learning [student]. changing of human biological being to a socially accepted person (Haralambos, Holborn & Heald, 2008; Burke, Oats, Keywords: Teachers Challenges , Public Secondary schools, school climate , Ringlet, Fichtner & Delgado, 2011; Gemici & Rojewski, 2010.

5 Students dropout, Dysfunctions of education. Anderson, Hamilton & Hattie., 2004). The Teachers are entrusted with the values of education institutions in the school climate (Anuforo, 2007; Adegoke, 2003; Marshall, Introduction 2004). But a productive school climate needs good teaching and learning strategies, sufficient instructional materials, school institutions remain a preparatory ground to empower richer classroom ecology, pleasant school culture, objective and certify the requirement for human development. The administration and good school physical structures. The teacher is faced with the Challenges of educating, socializing, availability of these features can help education to be empowering and certifying students, but with the help of good successful.

6 Thus, the absence of these can make students in teaching atmosphere (Fafunwa, 2004; Farrant, 2004; Wasagu, Secondary schools to be poorly socialized, uneducated, 2009). By implication, the task of a teacher , which includes wrongly informed, half trained and become unskilled sustaining education system, do not rest on his or her individual (Capenter,2011;Len,Stewin,Ma & Deveda,2001). professional competency alone, but on the entire features of But the failure of school climate in Nigeria is more attached the school climate (Loukas, 2007). But, Public schools which to Public Secondary school (Nakpodia, 2011; Egbochuku, are owned by government and are predominantly occupied 2007).

7 The failure of the school to meet the expectations of by citizens of lower socioeconomic status in Nigerian society students has led to poor academic performance, frequent and are facing Challenges of educational sub-standard, lack absenteeism and dropping out. Students dropout from school of adequate resources, leading to poor teaching, students (Rumberger & Sun Ah Lim., 2008; Fafunwa, 2004), is an poor academic performance and dropping out. Research has unconventional act, against social order or rules of any shown How to Cite this Article: Awwalu Muhammad Inuwa, Najeemah Bint Mohammad Yusof Teachers Challenges in Nigerian Public Secondary Schools climate : implications on Students Dropouts Science Journal of Sociology & Anthropology, Volume 2012, Article ID sjsa-125, 7 Pages, 2012.

8 Doi: Page 2 Science Journal of Sociology and Anthropology (ISSN: 2276-6359). schooling system and culture (Char land, 2011; Ellison, National teacher 's Institute, Colleges of Education, Institutes Boykin, Towns & Stokes, 2000; Fafunwa, 2004; Loukas, 2007; of Education and Faculties/Department of Education in Sigh, 2007). Universities (Anuforo, 2007; Fafunwa, 2004). According to Aggarwal (2006), teaching is a profession in which a trainee Nigerian Public Secondary school climate is facing Challenges has to be exposed to theories and practices over a long period of low operational quality and absence of required facilities of time.

9 During which trainee acquires desirable work ethics to cater for Teachers and students, which features; rampant to practice as teacher (Lingard, Hayes & Mills 2003; Nakpodia, examination malpractices, lack of parental commitment to 2011). A professionally trained teacher is one who has school activities, high rate of bullying, dominant acts of acquired training from any recognized institutions of indiscipline, gangsters, illegal substance abuse, lack of proper education in any country (Aggarwal, 2006; Anuforo, 2007). supervision of students activities, inbuilt culture of Because of the importance attached to teaching Nigeria incompetency and a general hopelessness leading to students provide various means to meet with the demand of producing failure, truancy and dropout, which societies have blindly teacher manpower in the country.

10 These are full-time, part- attributed faults to the classroom teacher (Raymond,2009; time, pre-service and in-service education programme in Wasagu, 2009; Abinboye, 2011). There have been a rising various tertiary education institutions, that provide teacher number of students dropouts from formal schooling system education programme. This is why, FGN (2004, p. 39) states [ Public schools], amounting to about 10 [Ten million that, Since no education system may rise above the quality of (Abinboye, 2011). This in future will lead lower class citizens its Teachers , teacher education shall continue to be given with lower socioeconomic status and inferior social class major emphasis in all educational planning and (Federal Ministry of Education [FME], 2009).]