Perceptions of Head Agricultural Science Teachers Regarding Problems and Challenges of Vocational Agriculture Delivery in Secondary Schools in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of head agricultural science
teachers regarding problems and challenges of vocational agriculture delivery in
secondary schools in Delta State. The population included all agricultural science
teachers (n = 915) in Delta State from which a purposive sample of 370 agricultural
science teachers were drawn. A total of 290 (80%) copies of a 47 item-questionnaire
distributed were correctly filled and used for this study. Data were analysed with
frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations. The result showed among
others that conducting regular continuous assessment/tests was the most frequently used
technique of vocational agriculture delivery among agricultural science teachers while
poor funding of vocational agriculture in secondary schools and keeping abreast with
developments in the field of agriculture and communication of such developments to
students were the most perceived problems and challenges of vocational agriculture
delivery in secondary schools. The study recommended that these perceived problems
and challenges by head agricultural science teachers be built into short-period in-service
education and refresher programmes of serving teachers in agricultural science.