CHALLENGES IN THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF COMPUTER SCIENCE IN JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ENUGU NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU STATE

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to assess the challenges of teaching and learning of computer science in junior secondary schools in Enugu North Local Government Area. Two research question guided the study. It was carried out in Enugu North using survey research design. The population of the study consists of all the junior secondary school students in Enugu North Local Government Area which comprises of 12,570 students in 9 secondary schools in Enugu North Local Government Area (PPSMB, 2017). The sample size for the study consists of two hundred (200) students. The instruments were validated by three experts. The reliability of the instrument was established through a trial- test in public secondary schools in Enugu State. The researchers administered the instruments directly on the respondents and collected them back after they were filled by the respondents. Mean was used in analyzing the data obtained. Findings indicated that teacher based factors that affect the teaching and learning of computer studies in junior secondary schools in Enugu North Local Government Area are poor teaching method by the teacher, lack of proper use of available instructional materials while teaching, lack of improvisation of non-available instructional materials, lack of dedication to duty, and inability to foster good student-teacher relationship are teacher based factors, The possible ways to address the challenges of teaching and learning computers studies include, among others, proper funding of education by government, provision of in-service training programme, seminar and workshop, provision of equipped computer laboratory and provision of standby generators.