THE PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF TEACHING AND LEARNING OF SOCIAL STUDIES AMONGST STUDENTS OF JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN AKOKO SOUTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AREA OF ONDO STATE.

This study was carried out to examine the problems and prospects of teaching social studies in junior secondary schools in Nigeria using 6 registered secondary schools in Akoko south east local government area of Ondo state as the case study. Specifically, the study aimed at finding out the extent to which students altitudes constitute problems to the teaching And learning of social studies, assess the extent to which teacher quality And quantity constitute problems to the teaching and learning of social Studies, find out the extent to which instructional materials constitute Problems to the teaching and learning of social studies, and determine the Extent to which curriculum issues pose problems to the teaching/learning of Social studies. The study employed the survey descriptive research design. A Total of 200 responses were validated from the survey. From the responses Obtained and analyzed, the findings revealed that lack of motivation, lack of Professionals to effectively the Social Studies courses both in the curriculum And teaching angle, inadequate facilities and many more are all hindrances To the growth of Social Studies sector of the Secondary Schools Nigeria. Furthermore, this situation is partly responsible for the reason why it has Been increasingly difficult to run experiments effectively for students; and Made the teaching and research in science and technology difficult and Therefore the country, resulting to the production of insufficient and ill- Prepared Social Studies education graduates. The study therefore recommends the educational authorities in the secondary schools should be charged with the responsibility for distributing curriculum guide for Secondary schools. This is because the curriculum guide has columns for Objectives to be attained after each topic as well as suggested materials for teaching each topic. This will assist the lecturers in the Secondary Schools In knowing what to do as well as act as orientation for the old ones. More so, there is need also for governmental agencies to organize workshops from Time to time to keep instructors abreast of the new approaches to teaching Some Social Studies education topics. To this effect, curriculum planners Should review the present curriculum to see whether there are some topics that needs to be deleted.