DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION EVALUATION AND COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY

The issue of hearing impairment has emerged as a significant disability concern on a global scale, posing a potential obstacle to the provision of high-quality education in emerging nations such as Nigeria. This initiative specifically addresses the difficulties encountered by students with hearing impairments in a specialised educational setting in Nigeria. A research investigation was carried out within the special schools located in the Oredo Local Government Area of EDO State. The primary methodology employed was qualitative research, with questionnaires serving as the means to gather fundamental demographic data from the participants. The focus of this study encompassed educators and head teachers of kids with hearing impairments within the Oredo Local Government Area. A total of 40 participants, all of whom were instructors, were involved in the research study. The study revealed that students in special needs education encounter various obstacles, including a scarcity of hearing aids, a communication barrier with the surrounding community, unfavourable attitudes from the community, insufficient funding, abandonment by parents and relatives, a shortage of teachers, and a lack of sign language interpreters. The challenges were found to have both immediate and lasting effects on the academic performance of students affiliated with the centre. In this study, it is determined that pupils with disabilities, particularly those with hearing impairments, in the Oredo Local Government Area are encountering difficulties in achieving fundamental education. The Nigerian government should enhance financial allocation and guarantee the provision of essential hearing devices and technology to all pupils with hearing impairments. This study provides a foundational framework for future research on the issues encountered by individuals with special needs in Nigeria.

This study was designed to ascertain the Prevalence of motional and Behavioural Disorders amongst Undergraduates’ Students in public universities using the University of Benin as the case study. Five (5) research questions were formulated to guide the study. The population of the study deals with undergraduate full time students in the faculty of Education in the University of Benin, which is made up of 8 departments sparsely divided across Ugbowo and Ekehuan Campus of the institution while the respondents were two hundred (200) students randomly selected from four (4) departments in the faculty of education. The research instrument for the study was a Questionnaire titled: The Prevalence of Emotional and Behavioural Disorders Amongst Undergraduates Students Questionnaire (TPEBDAUSQ). The instrument which was distributed to the respondents and collected immediately after completion from respondents. Findings revealed that emotional and behavioral disorders are prevalent among undergraduate education students at the University of Benin, with isolation stemming from past sexual assault and anxiety due to strike actions being notable emotional issues. On the behavioral front, common disorders include examination malpractice, poor class attendance, disrespect towards lecturers, procrastination, and difficulty concentrating in class. Contributing factors to these disorders include a short academic calendar, challenging lecturers, family distress, and a heavy academic workload. Despite the presence of a Guidance and Counseling Unit at the University of Benin, it has not fully achieved its objectives in addressing these issues effectively. To combat this, the university should enhance awareness of the unit's importance in tackling emotional and behavioral disorders among students, thereby fostering a supportive environment for their well-being and academic success. It was recommended that to enhance to address emotional and behavioral disorders among undergraduate education students at the University of Benin, it's crucial to enhance support services such as counseling and guidance, ensuring they are readily accessible and Well-promoted within the university community. Additionally, implementing measures to improve lecturer-student relationships, reduce academic stressors, and foster a culture of respect and inclusivity can contribute to a healthier and more
conducive learning environment

This research work was carried out to assess utilization of instructional materials in primary schools in Egor Local government area Benin City. This study intends to assess the utilization of instructional material among early childhood teachers, and in this regard, Four (4) research questions were generated to guide this study. The main purpose of this study specifically intends to; find out the challenges and factors that hinder the use of instructional materials. The focus of the study was on the availability and challenges of the utilization of instructional materials by teachers in early childhood schools and it isrestricted to primary schools within Egor Local government area Benin City, Edo state. A descriptive survey research method was adopted. The target population of this study comprises of both public and private preschool teachers with sample size of hundred(100)respondents being teachers from twenty-five (25) randomly selected primary schoolsinEgor local government area of Benin City and with the use of questionnaire as theinstrument to collect information from the respondents. The instrument was divided into two sessions; twenty (20) items researcher developed questionnaire was used for data collection. The targeted population for the study consisted of 100 respondents being teachers. The responses were collected and analyzed using frequency counts, mean, standard deviation and the independent sample test and the Cronbach reliability statistics was used and it gave reliability index of 0.85. The major findings of the study show that there are inadequate instructional materials in primary schools and chalk/white board are the most common types of instructional
materials in primary schools. The study further revealed that the use of instructional bmaterials influence pupils assimilation process and their ability to learn. Recommendations were made for improvement bearing the importance of instructional materials in primary schools.

The Study Investigate the Influence of Social Media on Mental Health Among Senior Secondary School Students in Oredo Local Government Area. Three research questions were raised to guide this study: What is the level of social media usage among
students in Oredo Local Government Area Edo state, Is there a relationship between social media usage and the mental health of students, What is the difference in relationship between social media usage and mental health of students among male and
female in Oredo Local Government Area Edo state. The population comprises Senior Secondary school students (SSS 1-3) within Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State. This includes students from public and private schools. Based on available data and school records, the estimated total number of students in SSS 1-3 across selected public and private secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area is 800. This figure represents the target population from which the sample for this study will be drawn. This study employed a simple random sampling technique to ensure that every student in the population had an equal chance of being selected. This method was chosen to minimize bias and enhance the representativeness of
the sample across Senior Secondary School(SSS 1-3) in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State. For this study, a total sample size of 200 students was selected from ten secondary schools within Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State. The findings revealed that, there is a high level of social media usage among students, driven by the search for gratifications such as social interaction and identity formation, the level of mental health among the students is low, characterized by early signs of difficulty such as sleep irritation, lack of energy, and self-isolation there is a significant relationship between social media usage and mental health, indicating that
heavy and prolonged time spent on these platforms contributes to increased symptoms of
anxiety and depression. The following recommendations are made: Parents should ensure
that their children are digitally and emotionally prepared for the impact of social media. They should support their children’s well-being by monitoring platform density and encouraging non-screen activities like sports and in-person socializing. Schools should incorporate programs that focus on digital literacy and mental health awareness as part of the secondary education curriculum. This will enhance students' ability to handle "comparison pressure" and improve mental health outcomes. The government should implement policies that ensure all schools have access to mental health counseling services that address digital conditioning and cyberbullying. This will ensure that students are better prepared for the psychological challenges of the digital age

The study examined the influence of parental factors and career aspiration ofinternally displaced adolescents in Abuja Municipal area council, FCT. To guide this study, four research questions were raised and four hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The population of the study comprised 400 IDP adolescents enrolled in school within the Abuja Municipal area council. The sample size for this study was one hundred (100) adolescents living in IDP camps. A survey research design was adopted for the study. The instruments used for the study was a self structured questionnaire titled, Parental factors and career aspiration questionnaire (PFCAQ) The instruments was validated by three experts in the Department of Educational Evaluation and Counselling Psychology University of Benin. The reliability of the instrument was established through internal consistency using Cronbach alpha statistics which yielded reliability index of .858 as composite value while the subscale of occupation has .723 reliability value, education has reliability of .668, socio- economic status has the reliability co-efficient value of .599 and the family type has the reliability co-efficient of .666 respectively. Frequency tables, mean scores, standard deviation were used to test formulated hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level using linear regression. The findings of the study revealed no significant influence of parents’ level of education, parents’ occupation, socioeconomic status, or family type on the career aspirations of the adolescents in IDP Camps. The findings also revealed that the usual parental influence on career choices weakens in displacement conditions. The study concluded that in internally displacement contexts, career aspirations are shaped more by environmental exposure and support systems within the camp than by parental background. Based on the findings, the researcher recommends that career guidance programmes in IDP schools be strengthened, NGOs increase vocational and psychosocial support, educational resources in camps be improved, and parents be empowered with counselling and
parents support.