Assessment of Social Studies Objectives in Basic Education Programme in Ijebu Ode Metropolis of Nigeria

Abstract

Basic Education has been regarded as the most important level of education because it is the foundation which other levels of education are built on. Nigerian government makes it free and compulsory because of its significance and the vital role it plays in the lives of the younger ones in the society. Social Studies has been recognized as a vital subject that helps learners in the acquisition of range of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are expected by the basic education students, hence the development of functional citizens in the society. The study examines how far the teaching of social studies at the basic education has contributed to the achievement of the general social studies objectives. 300 J.S. 3 students were used for the study. Achievement of Social Studies Objectives Scale (ASSOS) was used to gather information from the participants who were randomly selected from six schools in Ijebu Ode metropolis of Nigeria. Data collected was analysed using simple percentage and Chi-square. The result shows that Social Studies created awareness of social and physical environment of the students (3.302); and that it also enhanced the development of basic skills in the students (3.05). The result shows that Social Studies is a very important subject in basic education for the making of effective citizens. It was recommended that government and school administrators should always provide necessary encouragement to Social Studies teachers so that they will do more in imparting necessary knowledge, attitude and skills to the students.
Basic Education, Social Studies, Social Studies Objectives