CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Teachers do not only act as instructors but also as parents, guardians and mentors. That is why teacher’s quality has a great role to play in student’s performance. These qualities include; the qualification of the teacher, the communication skills of the teacher, the physical appearance of the teacher, the control of technical skills and the mastery of subject matter. It is on this note that a research on ”Teachers effectiveness and students academic performance in the teaching of history” becomes necessary.

Background to the Study

The issue of teacher effectiveness and student’s academic performance in the teaching of History has been of much concern to all. The problem is so much that it has led to the widely acclaimed fallen standard of education.

Over time, student’s academic performance in the teaching of History in both internal and external examination has been used to determine excellence in teachers and teaching. Considering government huge investment in public education, its output in terms of quality of students has been observed to be unequal with the government expenditure. (Ukeje, 1990).

Consequently, upon the observed deterioration in the academic achievement attitude and values of secondary school students, one wonders if the student is not a reflection of the instructional quality of the school. Also, the ineffectiveness of the teachers in classroom interaction with students could be responsible for the observed poor performance of students and the widely acclaimed fallen standards of education.

Statement of the Problem

Teachers have been shown to have an important influence on student’s academic performance and they also play a crucial role in educational attainment because a teacher is ultimately responsible for translating policy into action and principles based on practice during the interaction with students.

Even though there are many factors that may affect student’s performance, it is necessary to find out the extent to which teachers are effective in the teaching of history and if their effectiveness affects the performance of students.

Purpose of study

The purpose of this study is to find out if schools that record high academic performance in the teaching of History in the Buea municipality, have effective teachers.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to find out the following:

1. If the use of familiar language during teaching affects students’ performance.
2. If the variability of media in teaching affects students’ performance.
3. If checking for understanding during teaching affects student performance.
4. If the provision of feedback affects students’ performance.