DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS

The purpose of this study was to examine the perception and attitude of education students towards teaching profession. Four research questions were raised to guide the study. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The population of this study consist of the entire students in History Education of the Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Ugbowo Campus with a population of nine hundred and eight (908) students. A sample of 100 respondents were randomly selected and used in this study and they were drawn to represent the entire population The Instrument for data collection in this study will be a structured questionnaire developed by the researcher titled “Perception and Attitude of Education Students Towards the Teaching Profession” (PAESTTPQ). The data collected were analyzed using mean (x), standard deviation (SD) and percentage method. The findings generally showed that the perception of education students towards the teaching profession is quite poor, the attitude of education students towards the teaching profession is poor or negative and the most prevalent factor influencing students’ perception and attitude towards the teaching profession is low salary and poor remuneration. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommended that the Nigerian government and educational stakeholders should intensify efforts to rebrand and elevate the image of the teaching profession through public awareness campaigns, policy reforms, and national recognition programs. Also, the Nigerian government should review and increase teachers’ salaries and allowances across all educational levels to ensure parity with other professional sectors. Regular and timely payment of salaries should also be enforced, as financial stability directly influences both motivation and commitment among teachers and prospective teachers.

This study examined the availability and utilization of e-learning resources in the teaching of English language among secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The study was prompted by the increasing importance of digital technologies in education and the need to understand their role in improving English language teaching and learning in a developing context. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to selected students and teachers in Egor Secondary School. Findings revealed that e-learning resources such as computers, digital materials, multimedia tools, and internet facilities enhance students’ proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking when effectively utilized. However, challenges such as inadequate availability of resources, poor infrastructure, irregular power supply, insufficient teacher training, and limited technical support hinder effective utilization. The study concludes that e-learning resources play a significant role in improving English language learning, but their impact is constrained by several institutional and infrastructural challenges. It therefore recommends that government and school authorities provide adequate ICT facilities, improve infrastructure, and organize continuous training for teachers to enhance the effective integration of e-learning resources in secondary schools.

The study investigated the influence of English language learning apps on literacy development among secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. It also ascertained the extent of availability of English language learning apps in secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State; examined the effect of English language learning apps on literacy development among secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area; found out the effect of English language learning apps in improving reading skills among secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area; and investigated the effect of English language learning apps in improving writing skills among secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area. Four research questions were raised to guide the study. The research design adopted for this study is the descriptive survey research design. The population for this study was made of all the 5,266 public senior secondary school students in the 12 public senior secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The sample size for the study was made up of 120 students. The instrument that was used for the data collection is a structured questionnaire titled “Influence of English Language Learning Apps on Literacy Development Questionnaire (IELLALDQ)”. The test re-test method was used to determine the reliability of the instrument. A reliability coefficient of 0.87 was obtained, indicating that the instrument is reliable for the study. The researcher made use of descriptive statistics such as mean score and standard deviation as the method of data analysis. The findings from the study include that there is a significant effect of English language learning apps in improving the reading and writing skills among secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. It was concluded that there is a significant effect of English language learning apps on literacy development among secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The study recommended among others that schools in Egor Local Government Area should incorporate English language learning apps into their curriculum to enhance students’ literacy development. This can be achieved by scheduling regular app-based learning sessions as part of English language instruction.

The study examined the influence of marital conflict on the educational advancement of post-graduate students in Edo State. The need to address the concern of stakeholders over the influence of marital conflicts on the educational progress of postgraduate students, in university of Benin, Benin City necessitated this study. To guide the study, five research questions were raised, hypothesized and tested at 0.05 alpha level. The study adopted Survey research method to measure the differences between the variables of the study. The population of the study was Eleven thousand, five hundred (11,500) married postgraduate students in the University of Benin, Benin City, while the target population was Five hundred and thirteen (513) married postgraduate students from the Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin City. The sample of the study consisted of Two hundred and twenty five (225) married post graduate students selected through purposive sampling procedures. The research instrument used in collecting data was a self designed questionnaire titled: “Marital Conflict and Students Educational Advancement Questionnaire (MCSEAQ)”. The instrument was validated by the researcher’s supervisor in the Department of Educational Foundations and two experts from the Faculty of Education, University of Benin. The Cronbach’s Alpha Statistics was used to establish the reliability of the instrument, the alpha value of 0.87 was obtained. Demographic characteristics of the respondents were analyzed with percentage while the hypotheses formulated were tested using Chi-square statistics. The findings revealed that there is a difference between the nature of marital conflicts among employed married post-graduate students and unemployed post- graduate students in University of Benin. The study also showed that there is a difference between the causes of marital conflicts among employed married post- graduate students and unemployed post-graduate students in University of Benin and that there is a difference between the influence of marital conflicts on the educational progress of married male post-graduate students and that of married female post-graduate students in the University of Benin. The study further revealed that there is a difference between the coping strategies employed by employed post-graduate students of University of Benin experiencing marital conflicts and that of unemployed post-graduate students of University of Benin experiencing marital conflicts, In view of the findings, the study recommends, among other, that the findings of this study be made available for use in educational planning and improvement. There was need for the University of Benin to have guidance Counsellors, who could counsel married students experiencing marital conflict.

This study titled school location and students academic performance in public senior secondary school in Edo state; a study of Oredo Local government Area. The objectives of the study are; to ascertain if there is relationship between school location and students academic performance, to identify significant difference in the relationship between school location and students academic performance based on school type and to ascertain significant difference in the relation between school location and student academic performance based on teachers qualification. Survey research design and descriptive design was used with a sample size of 8 obtained using stratified random technique. 8 copies of questionnaire were distributed to the respondents and 8 was returned, representing 100% which was used for the analysis using correlation. The result of the analysis was carefully studied and utilized in making the research findings which indicated that urban schools have better performances in WASSCE. They are more exposed to learning, have better infrastructures and have qualified teachers. This study recommends that government should invest more in rural schools to bridge the gap between students of urban schools and rural schools

This study investigated the Factors responsible for the negative attitude of secondary school students towards spoken English (phonetic), focusing on five key areas: articulatory, auditory and acoustic aspects, vocabulary development, creativity, revision skills, and attitudes towards spoken skills. The descriptive research design was used for this research work. Four research questions were drawn up to guide this study. Questionnaire was designed and analysed data collection. A total of one hundred and thirty three (149) respondents were used for the study. The simple percentage was used for analysing data obtained from the study. The findings revealed that Factors responsible for the negative attitude of secondary school students towards spoken English (phonetic) are of various factors which include proficiency and teaching methodology of phonetics teachers. Additionally, it has been observed that students’ Proficiency in English language, especially phonetics, is a major concern among educational stakeholders. Based on the findings, the study recommends that English teachers should channel their strength of emphasis on those aspect of Spoken English that is not obtainable in our Spoken native tongue. By repetitive activities, the students will familiarize themselves with those difficult but necessary aspects of the spoken English; Language laboratories and functional libraries should be provide in schools to aid learning.

This study was conducted to examine the factors affecting student performance in the study of history in higher institution a case study of the University of Benin. This study made use of the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consisted One hundred (1,182) students which is also the sample respondents for the study. The instrument for data collection for this study was a self-constructed close-ended questionnaire the researcher's supervisors were part of the validation team. Data obtained from the study were analyzed using mean score analysis. It was found in this study that Students level of performance varies as a result of factors like strong analytical skills, teaching methods, complexity of historical analysis and ease of access to educational resources. Family, time management skills, student’s prior knowledge of history, quality of teaching, and personal motivation/interest in history are the factors responsible for the student performance in History in the university of Benin Students’ field trips, level of participation, use of modern technology, incorporation of global perspectives to history courses and the use of multimedia resources are innovative approaches that can be used to teach History in the university of Benin The student have access to the lecturers for academic and personal advice which fosters an open and supportive learning environment On the basis of the findings, it was concluded Students' performance in History at the University of Benin is influenced by various factors, including analytical skills, teaching methods, access to resources, and prior knowledge. Family background, time management, and personal motivation also play crucial roles. Innovative teaching methods such as field trips, modern technology, and multimedia resources enhance learning, while an open and supportive academic environment fosters better student engagement.

This study examined the factors associated with mass failure in History among secondary school students in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area. The persistent poor performance of students in History has raised concerns among educators, parents, and policymakers, necessitating an investigation into the underlying causes. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population comprised all secondary school students offering History in selected schools within the study area, from which a representative sample was drawn using simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire designed to elicit responses on possible factors influencing students’ academic performance. Findings from the study revealed that several factors contribute significantly to mass failure in History. These include inadequate teaching methods, lack of qualified History teachers, poor student attitude towards the subject, insufficient instructional materials, and ineffective study habits. Additionally, environmental factors such as overcrowded classrooms and limited access to library resources were identified as contributing factors. The study concluded that mass failure in History is a multifaceted problem that requires urgent attention from all stakeholders in the education sector. It was recommended that government and school authorities should employ qualified teachers, provide adequate instructional materials, and improve teaching methodologies to make History more engaging. Furthermore, students should be encouraged to develop positive attitudes towards the subject through guidance and counseling.

O. E. Osagiobare

This thesis seeks to explore the restoration and conservation in concrete sculpture especially as concrete is one ofthe oldest ofthe sculptural medium that has been in use in our contemporary society. Overtime, concrete sculpture has been left unattended to by the non-application of preservatives thereby exposing it to the effect of strong winds, extreme humidity and abrupt temperature changes leading to structural wear; and in most cases these bring about failure ofthe sculpture. The consequences offailed sculpture include the erosion ofour cultural heritage, which leads to the loss of sculpture that are ofhistoric and academic interest. In addition,sculpture failure is becoming more rampant and if not addressed may in no small way deter robust research into who we are and our productive artistic past. Based on this, objectives were set to address the problem. The methodology employed is that of survey and studio experimentation whereby failed concrete sculpture within the sculpture garden of the department of Fine and Applied Arts of the University ofBenin were discussed. This research found out that there is a high negligence of sculpture as an essential feature of aesthetics in our built environment. These findings will be beneficial by encouraging the society to restore and conserve its neglected sculpture for posterity sake – as failure of sculpture is failure of the society, and inadvertently failure of the sculptor(s) involved. The study recommends that abinitio, adequate provision of sculptural materials be made to include what is essential for its sustenance and preservation. In addition,restoration and conservation ethics and code be incorporated as it is obtained in other climes.