CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      Background of the study

The National Policy on Education (NPE) introduced some noble ideas at Channeling Education to the development of Nigeria’s economic, political, sociological and human resources.  One of the innovative ideas in the policy is the liberalization of the Educational assessment and evaluation by using them in part or in whole on continuous assessment of the progress of the individual (Federal Republic of Nigeria F.R.N 2004)

        Prior to the institution of continuous assessment procedure of evaluation, one-short.  Summative evaluation was practice under this system of assessment emphasis is on decision at the end of the term or year.  One short coming of this practice is that it is too late to help pupils or students improve on their learning because most of them would be going on to their classes, courses or topic.  As a result, Education System (including the pupils, the teachers, the curricula and the administrators) is denied opportunity for meaning full growth.  It is unwise and unnecessary to deny the educational system this essential feedback.  The one-short summative evaluation has been rigorously criticized (Mkpa:1986, Igwebuike:1987, Ohuche:1988, Ekwonye:1986) Mkpa:1986 observed that it constituted a threat to learners who saw the examination as the sole determinant of their future academic and career destines.  Ohuche: (1988) also pointed out that teachers could not introduce innovation both in the teaching and evaluation of their students Partly because of the “Straight Jacket” syllabuses followed by the examining bodies and partly because teachers were not meaningfully involved in the evaluative part of their job.

        Therefore the continuous assessment system was aim at correcting the anomalies inherent in the one-short summative evaluation.  Another reason for the adoption of the strategy of continuous assessment is for a careful analysis of the concept of assessment as an integral part.  It is therefore reasonable that the teacher should be involved in the final assessment of the students he or she has taught. If we have a system whereby student earn a substantial part of their final rating from school work.  They will come to realize that passing or failing does not depend solely on performance in final examination.  The National Steering Committee on continuous assessment on the weights to be used in combining school assessment with the final Examination at the end of senior secondary school recommends as follows:

First Year - 10%, Second year - 20%, third year - 30% and Final Exam (WAEC or NECO) – 40%.  It is felt that weights should increase progressively so that test taken earlier in the courses carry less weight than those taken towards the end.  This is necessary for instance, in order not to un-duty penalize a pupil who might be poor at the beginning but has been making a steady progress so that he has reached a high level of performance at the end of the course.  At the same time the system discourages complacency on the part of the initially brilliant students.

There is considerable evidence, which suggest that the implementation of continuous assessment has a number of problems.  Ekwonye: (1987), Nzewi:(1990) and Eze: (1990) observed that problems exist in the implement of continuous assessment in all subject areas.  In Geography for instance, Ewusie, Duru Okpala and Onyekwelu (1988) investigated the practice of continuous assessment among Geography teachers in Awka Local Government Area of Anambra State.  According to them, the problem hindering the practice of continuous assessment in geography is as follows:

“Inadequate supply of teaching aids, dearth of geography teachers.  Heavy teaching loads, inadequate time for test and recording, lack of interest and dodging or test”.

Egwu, Elewa and Shintoho (1989) also pointed out that geography teachers in Benue and Ondo states are unqualified to implement some aspects of the new subject curriculum in which continuous assessment is part.  Other identifiable problems include high pupil/teacher’s ratio.  The makes it very difficult if not impossible for a teacher to assess up to 40 students effectively especially with non-test instrument.

1.2      Statement of Problem

Continuous assessment just like any other government policy cannot be implemented effectively if there are underlying problem. (Ortyo-Yande;1988).  Economics as one of the subjects taught in the secondary school also has its own share of these identifiable problems.  An identification of existing problems will provide an insight on the impediment that prevents Economics teachers from complying with the spelt out guidelines on its implementation.

        Most economics teachers lack the skills on process as well as the practice of keeping the records of children’s achievement as they are scored and graded and according to the weightings given to each component area that has been assessed. Another problem most economics teachers face is that of incompetence in developing valid assessment instrument for evaluation of behavioral outcomes in the three domains.  Most economics teachers seem to be confused in the amount of material content that should be covered by each test.  Most economics teachers are of the opinion that each test should include the earlier her and related materials taught before and after each preceding test. To operate continuous assessment effectively, economics teachers need to spend time on each child helping and observing. This implies that the teacher has to teach less number of students per class.  At present, the number of student per class is enormous. This makes it difficult for teachers to teach and evaluate effectively. This research work intends to examine the role of Continuous Assessment in Teaching and Learning of Economics.  (A CASE STUDY OF ENUGU SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA).

1.3   Purpose of the Study

        The general purpose of this study is to ascertain the status of the implementation and role of Continuous Assessment by Economic teachers in Agbani Educational zone.

        Specifically, the objectives of the studies include the following:

(i)                To find out the extent of teachers compliance with the continuous assessment standards.

(ii)               To determine the ways of assisting teachers in improving upon their skill in continuous assessment practice in Economics thereby enhancing the optimum performance of the students.

(iii)             To identify the factors that militates against Economic teacher’s compliance with the laid down guidelines for continuous assessment.

1.4   Significance of the Study

        The effective implementation of Continuous Assessment (C.A) has beneficial effects to the learners, Teacher’s Parents or guardian and the educational system general.  This is due to the fact that Continuous Assessment is more useful, practical, comprehensive and systematic than the traditional.  One-shot summative examination system (ALI and Akabue:1989) in addition of being guidance oriented. It encourages good study habits among student.  Students will see the need to work continuously at their studies rather than engaging in what may be termed “massed” learning towards the end of the year.  It will also lead student getting feedbacks on their efforts.  This system of assessment will also tend to ensure that on the part of the teacher he will have opportunity of introducing innovative ideas into his teaching.  He too will get feedback about which of his methods are achieving desired results and which are not. To the educational system, continuous assessment provides objective data on whether the standard of education is falling or rising.  Parents/guardians are also afforded of opportunity of being informed of the holistic assessment of their children performance.

1.5   Scope of the Study

The study is united to the practices and problems encountered by economics teachers in the implementation of continuous assessment in Agbani Educational Zone.  Only one educational zone will be covered in the study.

1.6   Research Questions

        This study sought to answer the following Research Questions.

(i)                To what extent do economics teachers in Agbani education zone comply with the continuous assessment guidelines?

(ii)               In what ways can the economic teachers be assisted to improve on their skills in continuous assessment practice with a view to enhance student optimum performance?

(iii)             What factors militate against the effective compliance with continuous assessment standard by economics teachers in Agbani Educational Zone?

1.7   Limitation of the Study

Irrespective of the efforts put in the research to make it a reality, there are still some obstacles, which hinderers and delayed the study and made it not to be moving as it supposed.  These setbacks include the following:

(i)    Time: There is wastage of time in the study irrespective of other programs at hand, there needs to run ups and down in order to meet up to the needs of the study (ie to make it a successful one)

(ii) Wastage of Energy: In making the research, much stress is being encountered in the process thereby making the write-up or creation of the research to be too monotonous to the researchers.

(iii)   Fund: This is an inheritable hindrance in the research work.  Money being needed to finance study but fund is supposed to be limitless to the researchers has a very limited fund to finance their work.  Fund therefore, handicapped the research work.

1.8   Definition of Terms

        The following terms are used in this research work expressly or impliedly.

a)     Education:       Education in the largest sense is any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind character or physical ability of an individual.

b)  Continuous Assessment:  Evaluation of a pupil’s progress throughout the course of study.

c)     Innovation:  Act of bringing in new methods, ideas, etc. make changes.

d)     Role:  A person’s or thing’s functions.

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