IMPROVING PUPILS ATTITUDE TOWARDS PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE LESSONS AMONG FORM TWO AGRICULTURE PUPILS OF TAMALE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Abstract

The study was on improving pupils attitude towards practical agriculture lessons among form two agriculture pupils of Tamale Senior High School. It sought to find out the attitude pupils have toward practical Agriculture, agriculture resources available for teaching agriculture science, the level of attention given to teaching and learning of practical agriculture and measures that can be put in place to help form two pupils of Tamale Senior High School to develop a positive attitude towards practical agriculture lessons. To achieve this convenience sampling technique was employed to draw a sample of 50 respondents for the study. The results indicated that pupils showed low interest in practical lessons. For example farm work and field trip were carried out once a year. Specimen and tools for work were also limited for each student to have an on hand experience. There were adequate human resource (professional staff) for teaching the subject, an agriculture laboratory and modernize agriculture tools for practical work. It came to light that the level of attention to given to teaching of practical lessons is low. Teachers cited the lack of support for practical as the major challenge. These factors culminate into students showing little interest in practical lesson. It also came to light that motivation for teachers and pupils, provision and adequate use of teaching learning resources for pupils will make them very interested Agricultural Science lessons, termly budget by school management and government support for the Agricultural could help teachers give more attention to practical lesson which will improve pupils interest in Agricultural Science. The study concluded that Agriculture science teachers and heads of schools should do well and find ways of encouraging pupils to have the interest in the subject. This can be done by Agriculture science teachers and heads of schools encouraging pupils to have good interest in the subject, through the formation of agricultural science clubs where pupils can discuss the relevance of practical agriculture lesson, scholarship packages should be awarded to best performing Agricultural Science students to serve as a motivation to students in practicing agriculture. Just as in vocational and technical courses, Agricultural subjects should have specific time period on the schools time table for practical work and Periodic in-service training for teachers teaching to help them upgrade their knowledge and skills in the teaching of practical agriculture.