ROLE OF INSTRUCTIONAL AIDS IN THE TEACHING OF ECONOMICS IN KALGO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ABSTRACT This study examined the role of instructional aids in the teaching of Economics in secondary schools in Kalgo Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Nigeria. The study sought to determine the availability, utilization, and effectiveness of instructional aids and identify challenges teachers face in their use. A descriptive survey research design was employed, with all forty-five (45) Economics teachers in public secondary schools serving as respondents through a census sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured and validated questionnaire, while reliability was established through a pilot test that produced a Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.86. Descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation were used to answer research questions, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) tested hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that instructional aids were moderately available, with visual and printed materials being the most used, while digital resources were limited. Teachers utilized these aids to a moderate extent, but their effectiveness was constrained by insufficient funding, inadequate training, and infrastructural deficits. Results showed a significant positive relationship between instructional aid usage and students’ academic performance (r = 0.43, p < 0.05), and a significant negative relationship between teachers’ challenges and their use of aids (r = – 0.51, p < 0.05). The study concluded that instructional aids significantly enhance teaching effectiveness and students’ understanding in Economics. It recommended increased government funding, continuous teacher training, ICT integration, and the use of locally improvised materials to promote effective teaching and learning.