| dc.description.abstract | This study was carried out with the main purpose of investigating the
administrative and methodological challenges related to inadequate training,
inadequate finances, inadequate teaching and learning resources and societal
attitudes at perceptions hampering concept formation which affect the learning
and general performance of the Visually Impaired Students and how to resolve
such challenges for the realization of the educational objectives. To do these six
objectives with the related questions were pursued to give the relevant information
as follows: -
Identify the type and level of training the administrators and the special
education teachers underwent.
To determine the problems encountered by the administration in
administering such special school.
Establish the problems related to financing special education activities for
the visually impaired learners and how such problems affect academic
performance.
To examine the appropriateness of the methods used to teach the visually
impaired learners.
Determine the perceptions and attitudes and how they affect self concept
formation in relation to academic performance for the visually impaired
learners. To examine problems encountered in the implementation of education for
the visually impaired learners.
The study was carried out through the use of unstructured questionnaire (openended
questionnaire) which were into three categories that is: students
questionnaire, teachers questionnaire and the head teachers questionnaires as the
only instrument to generate information from the three categories of
respondents. Gay (1992) says that random sampling will allow members of the population to
have unequal and unbiased chance of appearing in the sample. In this study the
subjects rich with information required includes, secondary school principal,
secondary school teachers and the form three students of the secondary school
for the blind.
With the use of the three questionnaires the study aimed to establish whether
such factors as; training issues, finances, special education curriculum,
administrative challenges, learners perception and attitudes and community's
beliefs, perfection and attitudes had a bearing to the effective performance of the
visually impaired students. The survey found out that, about 75% of the special education teachers were
unspecially trained. The survey also found out that 62.5% of the responses
qualified the inadequate teaching and learning resources and equipment. It was also noted with concern that majority of the teachers and even the Headteacher
had no prior knowledge and experience of teaching in special schools. Moreso,
the students suffered low self-concept and esteem emanating from anti-social
labels and the negative attitude that some members of the society had towards
them thus affecting their academic performance.
It was thus concluded that special education training for the teachers is of
prerequisite necessity if the visually impaired students were to perform well. It
was also concluded that prior knowledge and experience in teaching the visually
impaired learners is also very essential if effective learning and performance by
the visually impaired learners resolves around adequate teaching and learning
resources, equipment and facilities without which no good performance can be
achieved. Adequate finances enhance the appropriate teaching and learning process by the
visually impaired learners. It is also imperative for the special education,
administrators to sensitize the community about the importance of special
education and people with special needs, by inviting members of the community
to engage in school activities, meetings and seminars.
It has therefore been recommended that Teachers Service Commission be
responsive to the needs of special learners, particularly when posting teachers to
different schools in the republic. It is also imperative that training needs and
expenses of teachers of special schools, be re-examined with a view to make such, training affordable and attractive to the majority of the teachers willing to
take such special course.
It is also recommend that publishing houses, printing presses and libraries to be
encouraged to introduce and open up Braille Sections for the transcription for
Braille teaching and learning resources. Another recommendation is that the
government should invest more and allocate more funds for the development of
special education for all disabilities. | en |
