AN INVESTIGATION OF THE CAUSES OF THE DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS REGISTERING FOR HISTORY AT THE SENIOR LEVEL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION IN BOGORO LG A BAUCHI STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. Background of the Study

Education is widely understood to be the process through which people acquire the information, skills, and attitudes that allow them to develop their capabilities to their fullest potential. This definition is shared around the globe. One of the advantages of receiving a decent education is that it enables individuals to make contributions to the growth and improvement of the standard of living not only in their own lives but also in the lives of their communities and the country as a whole (Aremu, 2021). The West African Examinations Council, frequently known as WAEC, is an examination board thatwasestablished out of a concern for the advancement of education across West Africa, particularly in Nigeria. According to [Ambali, 2019], the council has built a workforce that is both highly skilled and highly motivated. This personnel is responsible for administering exams on both the national and international levels. A meeting was held in 1948 to discuss the future policy of education in West Africa; at the meeting, Dr.George Barker Jeffery changed into appointed to go to a few West African nations along with Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Nigeria;on the cease of the visit, Jeffery's advice for the established order of WAEC in 1952 become adopted [WAEC, 2019]. In 1948, a assembly turned into held to speak about the destiny coverage of schooling in West Africa; on the assembly, Dr. George Barker Jeffery was appointed to visit some West The study of history has an important position in human existence, comparable to that of the soul to the body. Hence, history always plays a dominating role in creating human knowledge of their surroundings, and this function always plays an enormously significant role. History acts as a formula for assessing the degree to which a society grows or stays static. It also serves as a connection between civilizations, offers solutions to issues that have been exacerbated by a sequence of events, and, most importantly, provides these solutions. According to Ajayi (2022), the purpose of teaching history in senior high schools is to provide pupils with the opportunity to study about the history of both Nigeria and Africa as a whole. It is also crucial in the development of national and patriotic impulses, which will allow individuals to apply the lessons learned from history to the planning of the country's present and future. As history predates all other social sciences and serves as the foundation for both the humanities and the social sciences, it is sometimes referred to as the "mother" of the social sciences. Justification is necessary for the study of any topic; proponents of the subject need to explain why it should be given attention. In the twenty-first century, there were obvious evidence that history had lost its privileged position, and interest in the topic was swiftly dropping. Moreover, there was a clear signal that the number of people studying history was rapidly falling. History was eliminated as a subject when the Middle School system was done away with, and the subject of Social Studies was pushed up to the Senior High School level. And when it came to the senior level of high school, the government and the reformers did not acknowledge the significance of history as a subject of national importance, so they made it an option instead of a required one (Boyd , 2021). There was a discernible rise in the total number of pupils who held the opinion that studying history was an instructive way to spend classroom time. However, despite the fact that more students were aware of the benefits of studying history, very few of them were able to articulate the reasons why it was beneficial, and even fewer students were able to articulate the benefits of history in terms of the purposes of school history as outlined in the curriculum (Bakare , History, as a topic, has evolved into one of the least interesting courses that is taught in the majority of senior high schools today, and it is rapidly losing both its attractiveness and its once-exalted status in educational institutions. Even at schools where history is offered as one of the topics that are studied, there has been a decrease in the number of students opting to take it as compared to the number of students who attend lessons in the other arts disciplines. This turn of events is exceedingly bad and calls for a powerful treatment solution. As a result, it is essential to investigate the reasons behind the falling popularity of History as a topic in senior level certificate examinations (Bakare, 2019). Therefore, the study will examine the causes of the decline in the number of students registering for history at the senior level certificate examination in BOGORO LG A BAUCHI state

1. 1. Statement of the Problem

The study of history at Nigerian academic institutions is plagued with difficulties, and as a result, fewer students are interested in pursuing careers in the field. The beginning of the gradual loss of interest in the study of history may be traced back to the victory of freedom in Africa. Since the country's independence, successive generations of African leaders, both military and civilian, have been misled into believing that history is their adversary and a source of trouble. As a result, they have prepared to overcome any challenge that history may throw in their path, despite the fact that nobody imposes their will on history or makes decisions on its behalf (Akinsolu , 2020).

The study of history as a topic may be said to have a significant impact on the evolution of a civilization. It would seem that the field of study has not yet reached the level of success that was intended for it, despite the many benefits that studying history can bring to both the individual student and to society as a whole. It is also evident that the majority of students have difficulty succeeding in History, which is why only a small number of students choose to take the subject or even register for it in the final test (WASSCE) (Akinsolu, 2020). Therefore, the study examines the causes of the decline in the number of students registering for history at the senior level certificate examination in Bogoro LGA Bauchi State.

1. 1. Objective of the Study

The broad objective of the study is to examine the causes of the decline in the number of students registering for history at the senior level certificate examination in Bogoro LGA Bauchi State. The specific objectives is as follows:

1. Determine whether perceived difficulty contributes to the decline in the number of students registering for history at the senior level certificate examination in Bogoro LGA Bauchi State.

2. Determine whether perceived career prospect contributes to the decline in the number of students registering for history at the senior level certificate examination in Bogoro LGA Bauchi State.

3. Determine whether peer influence contributes to the decline in the number of students registering for history at the senior level certificate examination in Bogoro LGA Bauchi State.

4. Determine whether parental influence contributes to the decline in the number of students registering for history at the senior level certificate examination in Bogoro LGA Bauchi State.

1. 1. Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study

1. Does perceived difficulty contribute to the decline in the number of students registering for history at the senior level certificate examination in Bogoro LGA Bauchi State?

2. Does perceived career prospect contribute to the decline in the number of students registering for history at the senior level certificate examination in Bogoro LGA Bauchi State?

3. Does peer influence contribute to the decline in the number of students registering for history at the senior level certificate examination in Bogoro LGA Bauchi State.

4. Does parental influence contributes to the decline in the number of students registering for history at the senior level certificate examination in Bogoro LGA Bauchi State?

1. 1. Significance of the Study

The study will be significant to curriculum planners and developers, the study will guide them in planning and developing the History curriculum and syllabus in a way that will expose the importance of History and various jobs opening to students studying History.

It will also help students to change their perception of the subject as dull and difficult and help them to improve upon their interest and performance in the subject.

Moreover, it will also provide information to teachers in selecting and directing students to relevant books and materials which will help the students to acquire the interest and pass well in the History subject.

The research will also bring out the challenges that teachers and students encounter in the teaching and learning of History as a subject. This will provide a lot of insight in the nature of the challenges to enable them find appropriate solution.

Furthermore, the study will bring to light the teaching methods and techniques which are significant in the teaching and learning of History as a subject. This will enable teachers and students identify the appropriate teaching methods and techniques that will improve on the teaching and learning of the subject. Finally, the study will add to the existing knowledge on the factors for the causes decline of History as a subject.

1. 1. Scope of the Study

The study will examine the causes of decline in the number of students registering for history at the senior level certificate examination in Bogoro LGA Bauchi State.

The study will be carried out in some selected educational zone in Bogoro LGA Bauchi State.

1. 1. Limitation of the Study

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire, and interview), which is why the researcher resorted to a moderate choice of sample size. More so, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

1. 1. Definition of Terms