An Evaluation of the African Studies Curriculum: Student’s Motivation for Selection of Courses at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Ghana (Published)
The African Studies Curriculum at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has been implemented for over two decades. Its challenges include students’ motivations, cultural content, teaching methods, techniques and strategies. With a pragmatic worldview rooted in the Constructivist Learning Theory, the Self-Determination Theory (SDT), and the Expectancy-Value Theory, empirical literature within the domain of curriculum implementation in African Studies was critically reviewed. An explanatory sequential design within the mixed method approach was adopted, while the Krejcie and Morgan Table for sample size determination was employed to sample three hundred and seventy-five (375) students from a total of 12,009 first-year students offering African Studies courses in the 2022/23 academic year at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW). Nine (9) students were purposively selected from the sample size of 375 for the qualitative data. Again, five (5) lecturers from the African Studies Centre of UEW were purposively selected for the study. Instruments for data collection included questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data analysis was done by using SPSS statistics analytical software. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for the quantitative analysis, whilst thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. In the context of explanatory sequential mixed method design (QUAN → qual), a Directed Content Analysis (DCA) was employed. This approach aids in interpreting and explaining the quantitative results. Findings showed that even though students are motivated by a series of factors when selecting courses in the African Studies curriculum, they are influenced by external factors such as department, colleagues, and the popularity of the courses. It was concluded that some Departments choose specific courses based on relativity to their areas of specialism and future academic pursuits. It was recommended that, there is the need for course recommendation systems in physically-based university environments like the University of Education, Winneba in Ghana. This has become necessary since African Studies courses are mandatory to re-orient students’ misconceptions concerning the continent and carve a positive African image. Fresh students should be oriented to alleviate the misconceptions associated with course selection.
Keywords: African studies, Curriculum, Evaluation, Motivation, Students, course selection, university of education
Implication of Academic Staff Union Strike Action on Students’ Academic Performance: Ex-Post-Facto Evidence from University Of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria. (Published)
The study explored the implication of the incessant industrial action by academic staff unions on the students’ academic performance: ex-post-facto evidence from University of Lagos, Nigeria. With the objective of carrying out relative analysis of the students’ academic performances in the pre-strike semester to post strike semester capturing the academic performance by GPA. The study developed a theoretical framework and employed ex-post-facto research design. The research revealed that strike action disrupts academic calendar which bestowed on students psyche cost, disheartenment and unable to speedily regenerate themselves towards academic exercises at the resumption. Consequently, poor academic performance in the post-strike semester. The Study recommends amongst others that whatever the grievances, academic union and other bodies that operate in education sector should not resort to the strike as weapon of bargaining. Joint Consultation Committee should be set up and meet on periodic intervals to discuss impending matters that could generate dispute.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Academic Staff Union, Curriculum, Educational Objectives, Industrial Action
Quality Assurance of Teachers in the Assessment of Social Studies Curriculum of Secondary Schools in Abeokuta Metropolis in Ogun State, Nigeria (Published)
The study was carried out to ensure the quality assurance of teachers in the assessment of the Social Studies curriculum in Secondary Schools in Abeokuta Metropolis of Ogun State, Nigeria. Two research questions were formulated and answered in this study. Survey research and evaluation designs were involved. The sample for the study was 57. A 20 cluster item questionnaires and 35 multiple choice test items were developed and used to collect data. The data collected were analyzed using percentages, means and performance gap analysis to answer the research question. Conclusively, the importance of assessment of secondary school social studies curriculum can not be over emphasized because it is a well established fact that the status and kind of assessment used in appraising phenomenon for reaching implication not only for students’ achievements, but also for the nature of school procedure in an institutions. Based on the result of the study, it was recommended among other things that, teachers should be sponsored by the government to attend seminars, workshops and conferences to update themselves in order to improve the quality of their teaching skills
Keywords: Assessment, Assurance, Curriculum, Metropolis, Quality