The role of elementary school teachers as perceived by students in the Nasarawa local government area, Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

The objective of the study is to conduct an assessment of primary school teachers’ role as perceived by pupils in Nasarawa local government area (LGA) using the questionnaire method, 175 questionnaires were administered to some sampled pupils in ten primary schools selected randomly. The data collected were analysed, interpreted and presented in a tabular form by using frequency and percentage methods. On a Research Question 1: How do pupils perceived primary school teachers’ role in Nasarawa; 76 pupils (43%) submitted moral training as a major pupil’s perception on teachers’ role, while 67 (38%) shows instruction in subject has a major pupils’ perception on teacher’s role. Social training as role of teachers has been submitted by 10%, education for citizenship has 5%, and education for family citizenship has 4% score. On a question, do you show you respect to teachers outside the school premises? 119 respondents (68%) responded that their pupils always show respect outside the school premises, while 56 (32%) responded, that pupils are not always showing respect to their teachers outside the school. When asked, from your opinion, what extent do you think gender difference influence pupils’ perception towards their teacher role, answers show 135 (77%) responded that male teachers have more influence over female teachers towards their teacher role, while 40 (23%) of them submitted that female teachers influence pupils’ perception more than male teachers. 125 respondents (71%) are very sure that male teachers are regarded more in terms of good personality, 50 (29%) responded that female teachers are more regarded in personality than the female teachers. 87% respondents said that male teachers are too strict and scared more in terms of punishment, while 22 (13%) responded that, female teachers are too strict and scared more by pupils in terms of punishment. 84 (48%) respondents said that, NCE holders have influence on, 83 (47%) responded that Degree are more influential on, 8 (5%) pupils’ respondents admitted that Grade 11 certificates have more influence on students. 130 which (74%) responded that old recruited teachers with experience influence pupils’ better. This means that the respondents who answered very sure are 74% of old recruited teachers with experience influence pupils’ perception are better than new recruited teachers. Thus, moral training and instrument in subject are major role of teachers as perceived by pupils in Nasarawa LGA, pupils always show respect to their teachers within and outside the school premises in Nasarawa LGA, male teachers influence pupils’ perception more than female teachers toward their role as perceived by pupils in Nasarawa LGA, male teachers regarded more than teachers in terms of good personality perceived by pupils in Nasarawa LGA, male teachers consider too strict scared more in terms of punishment as perceived by pupils in Nasarawa LGA. Teachers with NCE and Degree qualification are more influential towards pupils’ perception in teacher role in Nasarawa LGA, Old recruited teachers influence pupils’ perception better than new recruited teachers in Nasarawa LGA.