THE EFFECT OF UNTRAINED TEACHERS ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS: A CASE STUDY OF NUHU BAMALI POLYTECHNIC, ZARIA

Abstract

This study was on Effect of Untrained Teachers on the Academic Performance of Students in Tertiary Institutions. The researcher went into the investigation as a result of mass enrolment of Lecturers in Nuhu-Bamalli Polytechnic Zaria into the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (P.G.D.E.) programme. This was prompted because of the new rule by Teachers Registration Council (T.R.C) that by the year 2006 all Teachers should acquire a professional certificate in Education. This rule was upheld by National Board for Technical Education (N.B.T.E.). The philosophy behind this phenomenon is the assumption that before a lecturer can impact the necessary knowledge and skill required by a student to perform well in his field of study, the lecturer must have the required classroomskills, knowledge and method to do that. The researcher was spurred by this development and wants to find out the effect of untrained teachers on the academic performance of students in Nuhu-Bamalli Polytechnic. The case Study area had a population of 520 and a sample size of 104 was used derived through purposive stratified method. The data collection was carried through secondary and primary data. The questionnaire used to collect information from the senior staff of the institution was structured. The data analysis was done by simple percentage frequency analysis. It was found out that: The employees of the polytechnic possess high qualification in their various areas of profession but very few of the teachers have qualification in education or that are trained teachers, but they possess academic excellence in their field of study. The institution employs based on candidates that possessacademic excellence in their field of study whether trained or untrained and they contribute to the achievement of the institutions’ set objectives. The polytechnic authority is not doing much to improve the professional skills of the untrained teachers. There is a great difference between the performance of trained teacher and that of the untrained with regards to classroom instruction and making a positive learning impact on students. The study recommended that: during employment process in tertiary institution, the authorities concerned should employ their teachers based on acquisition of professional excellence in their field of study and teachers’ education qualification (N.C.E or P.G.D.E.). If teachers are employed without the requisite teachers’ skills and methodology the institutions should train and retained the trainer. The Nigerian government if, steadily working towards achieving professionalstatus they must think of co-operating with employers, teachers-trainee and sponsors to put the right calibre of teachers in the classroom to enhance their prestige and integrity for purposeful National building.