Teacher Preparation as Predictive Factor of Professional Job Attitudinal Skills of University Graduate Teachers in Nigeria Secondary Schools

Abstract

This study examined teacher preparation as a predictive factor of professional job attitudinal skills of graduate teachers in Nigeria. This is to be able to determine the need for or otherwise of teacher training programme in Nigeria.The Study was conducted in Lagos State, Nigeria. Descriptive research design was adopted. 510 graduate teachers out of  the existing 1277 in Lagos educational district III were sampled for the study using a multi-stage sampling technique involving randomness and stratification techniques whereby 40% of the total secondary school population was selected from each of its three zones with 40% of relative proportions of male and female graduate teachers. Six hypotheses were formulated while a 50- item researcher designed scale titled Teacher Preparation Experience and Professional Job Attitudinal Skills Scale (TPEPJASS) was used to collect relevant data for the study. T-test was used to test all the hypotheses at .05 significance level. Result revealed that, although there is no significant difference between the professional skills acquired during teaching practice and those displayed by graduate teachers in Lagos State secondary schools, there exists a significant difference between the professional attitudinal skills acquired during teaching practice and those displayed on the job. The study concludes that teaching practice exercise is still desirable in teacher preparation. It recommends that Governments and other employers of teachers should provide conducive work environment that would motivate the teachers to have more interest in the job as well as put in their best at work. This will include the provision of facilities, well ventilated and furnished classrooms, rest rooms, staff relaxation office and good lightening. They must ensure that teachers are given salaries, allowances and compensations that are comparable with those of their colleagues in other industries. Importantly, teachers’ salaries should be paid promptly to avoid the incessant search for means of survival in lieu of delayed salaries.

Keywords: Teacher Training, Professional Attitudinal Skills, Teaching Practice, Graduate Teachers, Secondary School