Teaching and Learning Geography in Selected Secondary Schools in Ondo Town, Nigeria

Abstract

The act of teaching and learning Geography in selected secondary schools in Ondo Town, Nigeria was assessed using a well structured questionnaire that was administered to fifty (50) randomly selected Senior Secondary 2 and 3 students and twelve (12) Geography teachers in the study area. Data gathered were subjected to analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 16) to generate means, frequencies and percentages. The results revealed that 25% of the total number of teachers are first degree holder in geography education, 16.7% having second degree, 33.3% are degree holder in science but not in education, 8.3% are H.N.D holder and 16.7% are N.C.E holder. Furthermore, 2 out of the respondents had three years of teaching experience. Or less 6 out of the respondents 50%, that is half of the population had 10 years or less experience. Four teachers (33.3%) uses demonstration method while the remaining two uses assignment and 16.7% used model as teaching aid while 33.3% make use of charts. It was obvious that 9 out of 12 respondents assessed their students to have average performance in the subject geography while three respondents have students with very good performance in geography. The results also revealed that none of the students choose geography as a result of friends influence or as a result of parents forcing them to do it. 6% of the students said that they choose geography because they have no choice, 86% offered geography because of the future plan while 8% offer geography because of the fact that it is simple. It is discovered that six students out of 50 students are in commercial class which can as social science department while 44 students are in science class. The results of this study if properly harnessed could improve the act of teaching and learning Geography in Nigeria.