ASSESSMENT OF SOCIAL STUDIES AS A PANACEA FOR CHILD ABUSE SYNDROME IN BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAMME IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed Social Studies as apanacea for child abuse syndrome in basic education programme in Ogun State. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design where questionnaires were used to acquire necessary data for this study. Population comprises all primary schools in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State. Simple random sampling technique was used to select ten (10) Primary Schools in which ten (10) teachers were chosen from each of the selected schools in Odeda Local Government to make a total of one hundred (100) teachers as sample for the study. Three research questions were used and answered in this study. A selfdeveloped questionnaire tagged: Assessment of Social Studies as a Panacea for Child Abuse Syndrome at Basic Education Programmes (ASPCASBEP) was used as an instrument for data collection. To test the reliability of the instrument, ten (10) teachers were selected randomly who were not part of the sample population and value obtained was 0.77 which is reliable enough for the study. The data collected were analyzed with the use of simple percentage. Findings revealed that Social Studies as a problem-solving subject can serve as a preventive measure for child abuse syndrome in society. It was also revealed that, teachers of Social Studies are to meet up with the target objectives of the subject so as to inculcate morality into the learners and the society at large in order to serve as solution to reduce child abuse in the society. The study recommended that teachers, school counselors and parents should know their limitations and obligations in handling issues of abuse. Teachers should desist from giving the pupils corporal punishment which may be tantamount to child abuse. Counselors should be required to handle abuse cases with care.