AN EXAMINATION OF THE NEED AND CHALLENGES AFFECTING THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF GOVERNMENT CURRICULUM IN NIGERIAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background Of The Study

Government is identical with politics, political and civic education as an academic subject in secondary school education. Politics as a notion has a significant impact on a citizen's well-being and the stability of a nation. In most policies, a pervasive atmosphere of government inconsistency and the absence of a political culture prevail in Nigeria. This climate of uncertainty has resulted in constant friction within the political system, resulting in political instability, a situation that precludes meaningful development. It becomes critical that youngsters in secondary school as future leaders should receive a thorough political education with the goal of instilling in them a spirit of political consciousness that will result in a strong sense of loyalty, patriotism, and commitment to the nation's goals.

Thus, secondary school government studies can be an effective vehicle for fostering political consciousness if our political leaders, policymakers, and educational youths can develop a curriculum that enables youth to develop a positive attitude toward and understanding of the Nigerian political system. The rise of politically savvy youths in Nigeria would enable citizens to use their political rights wisely by electing politically and economically viable leaders. In line with the preceding, secondary school youths, as future leaders, must understand the fundamentals of our political systems in order to gain an understanding of how these various political systems operate.

Therefore, no effort should be spared in teaching future leaders in a manner that will pique their interest in the study of government, which is the only way to learn the game's rules. The primary reason for teaching government is to contribute to an individual's capacity for wise behavior in society, as the subject of government deals with past, present, and future sociopolitical events. Government is taught because it covers topics that enable students to apply their values to past sociopolitical events in order to improve current conditions.

1.2 Statement Of The Problem

Government study in secondary schools has the potential to be an effective vehicle for promoting political awareness if political leaders, policymakers, and educational institutions can assure the curriculum's successful implementation.  Government studies can assist youngsters in developing a good attitude and a knowledge of the Nigerian political system. However, due to educator challenges such as insufficient resources, financial constraints, and a lack of training, curriculum implementation has proven challenging for the teaching and learning culture in numerous Nigerian schools (Ikejari, 2013).  As a result, if these issues are not addressed, they will have far-reaching implications for young people's political knowledge and skills (Dayor, 2011).

Additionally, other factors affecting the effective implementation of the government curriculum in Nigerian secondary schools relate to students, such as their positive attitude toward the subject, which results in their lack of interest in studying it.  Similarly, Adeyo (2011) asserted that parents' attitudes toward the subject impede the effective implementation of the government curriculum in Nigerian secondary schools, as parents prefer that their children study law, economics, accounting, and medicine, among other subjects.  In light of the foregoing, this study will primarily focus on the government curriculum's importance in Nigerian secondary schools and the factors affecting its effective implementation.

1.3 Objectives Of The Study

The overall aim of this study is to critically examine the need and challenges affecting the effective implementation of government curriculum in Nigerian secondary schools. Hence, the study will be channeled to the following specific objectives;

1.        Identify the importance of Government curriculum in secondary schools.

2.        Ascertain the extent to which Government curriculum is effectively implemented in secondary schools.

3.        Identify the factors affecting the effective implementation of Government curriculum in secondary schools.

1.4 Research Question

In the course of this study, the following questions will be addressed.

1.        What the importance of Government curriculum in secondary schools?

2.        What is the extent to which Government curriculum is effectively implemented in secondary schools?

3.        What are the factors affecting the effective implementation of Government curriculum in secondary schools?

1.5 Significance Of The Study

This study will help to reemphasize why government studies should not be thrown to the dust, one of which being that government studies can be useful for fostering political consciousness among youngsters if political leaders, policymakers and educational agencies can enforces the effective implementation of the curriculum.

The study will also expose the teachers, school managements, the government and all stakeholders involve in policy making in Nigeria to the challenges that hinder the proper implementation of government curriculum in Nigeria.

Additionally, subsequent researchers will use it as literature review. This means that, other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regards to the need and challenges affecting the effective implementation of government curriculum in Nigerian secondary schools.

1.6 Scope Of The Study

This study is structured to generally examine the need and challenges affecting the effective implementation of government curriculum in Nigerian secondary schools. However, the study will further identify the importance of Government curriculum in secondary schools, ascertain the extent to which Government curriculum is effectively implemented in secondary schools, and identify the factors affecting the effective implementation of Government curriculum in secondary schools.

The study will be delimited to some selected secondary schools in Okpala, Imo State.

1.7. Limitations Of The Study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, and the attitude of the respondents.

In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed. 

More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, and states in the countries in Nigeria.

1.8 Definition Of Terms

Curriculum: The subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college.

Government Studies: This is the study of political institutions in the state, ideas, values and doctrines about politics, the view of political thinkers of what constituted the welfare of the people.

Implementation: The process of putting a decision or plan into effect; execution