LITERATURE – IN – ENGLISH AND THE GENERAL STUDIES CURRICULUM FOR NIGERIAN POLYTECHNICS: THE NEED FOR CHANGE » Download Project Topics

Abstract:

Although the Polytechnics were established to produce middle-level technical manpower, the 1981 (revised in 1998) National Policy on Education (NPE) still provides pedagogical policies aimed at instilling in the Polytechnic graduates a sense of the social and human context in which they will operate. In compliance with the policies, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Polytechnics evolved General Studies Courses which provide instructions in a variety of subjects in the liberal arts and humanities. In the last twenty (20) years, this practice has been in force and has become entrenched in the Curricula of the Polytechnics. However, over the years, there has been a growing concern over the efficacy of these policies. This study examines the appropriateness of the Literature-in-English (Literature) component of the ‘General Studies Course Specifications or Curriculum’ currently in use in Nigerian Polytechnics. Specifically, the study investigates the extent of the curriculum’s conformity with the provisions of the National Policy on Education. In the context of deficiencies discovered in the existing Curriculum, the study proposes an appropriate curriculum for Literature. The study is thus divided into five chapters. Chapter one provides an over – view of the area of study as well as the conceptual background of the study. It also relates the provisions in the National Policy on Education for the teaching of General Studies with the existing shortcoming of the General Studies Course Specifications for National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Nigerian Polytechnics. In addition, it discusses the research problem, assumptions, objectives, hypotheses, significance, theoretical framework, and the scope and limitations of the study. Chapter two provides a general review of existing literature. It discusses the concept of Literature and the relationship between Literature, Science and Technology. It also discusses issues in the National Policy on Education and the concept, the components, the patterns, and the process of curriculum development. Chapter three discusses the research methodology. Five research questions and three assumptions were formulated for the conduct of the study. In addition, three separate questionnaire instruments were used to collect data. Chapter four analyses the data collected in chapter three and presents the data collected in tabular frequencies and percentiles. These findings are used to validate the research assumptions. Chapter five is the conclusion on the study. It demonstrates that although the National Policy on Education is focused in its objectives, the application of these objectives to the General Studies Course Specifications for National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Nigerian Polytechnics and their implementation have remained unsatisfactory, and even counter-productive. Therefore, the study proposes a review of the General Studies Curriculum and its pedagogy for Literature.

LITERATURE – IN – ENGLISH AND THE GENERAL STUDIES CURRICULUM FOR NIGERIAN POLYTECHNICS: THE NEED FOR CHANGE