MEASURING TEACHERS' KNOWLEDGE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING CENTRES IN PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS IN ILORIN SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KWARA STATE

Abstract

Creating an environment for children's learning with a variety of learning centres is an important aspect of organizing a high quality learning environment which can actually make teaching and learning more efficient for children. Previous research highlighted the importance of learning centres in children's learning and development but little was said about the teachers' awareness and knowledge of the importance of learning centres in preschool classrooms. Hence, this study investigated teachers' awareness and knowledge of importance of learning centres in llorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State. The research design for this study was descriptive survey. Population comprised all the pre-primary and primary school teachers in llorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State. Simple random sampling technique was adopted to select 20 schools and a total of 200 respondents. Two instruments tagged Teachers' Awareness of Learning Centre (r=0.83) and Teachers' Knowledge of importance of Learning Centres (r=0.87) were used to collect the data needed for the study. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of percentages, frequency counts, mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics of t-test: The result revealed that teachers' awareness of learning centres is low and they did not have knowledge of importance of learning centres. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations were made that courses on learning centres should be included in the curriculum for the training of early childhood and primary school teachers. Also, that workshop, training and re-training should be organized for teachers in the field to educate them about learning centres and their importance.