Assessment of Instructional Methods Adopted By Teachers of Agricultural Science in Secondary Schools for Enhanced Skill Acquisition for Self-Reliance in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper assessed the instructional methods adopted by teachers of agricultural science in secondary schools for enhanced skill acquisition for self-reliance in Enugu State. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. A structured questionnaire made up of 28 items was used to elicit responses from 122 respondents comprising of 90 teachers of agricultural science teaching in schools located in urban and 32 teachers, teaching in schools in rural areas. The instrument was face validated by three experts. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient. A reliability index of 0.91 was obtained. Mean with standard deviation was used to answer the research questions, whilet-test was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The results of the study showed that teachers used demonstration, action research method, individual teaching method, field experience (farm) teaching, field trip methods of teacher, etc to a great extent, for enhanced skills acquisition for self-reliance in Enugu State. It was found that teachers do not integrate modern technologies in teaching agricultural science in secondary schools in Enugu State of Nigeria. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that; teachers should be retrained in the use of modern technologies in agricultural instructional delivery.