This article examines the impact of social media on the writing abilities of Nigerian youths in English, which is the language of mass communication in Nigeria. Deploying cultivation theory of the media, this study uses quantitative and qualitative methods to unpack the Nigerian youths’ opinions on the impact of the use of the new media of social networking platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, etc., on their writing abilities, using undergraduates of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma-Nigeria as a study case. To do this, information is gathered through the use of 120 copies of a validated survey questionnaire. Additional information is garnered from in-depth interviews (IDIs) with lecturers from within and outside Ambrose Alli University and focused group discussion (FGD) with some students of the institution as well as the researchers’ direct observation of the issue under investigation. The study discovers that a majority of the youth adopt a certain option/brand of English which cannot be located within the matrixes of Standard English or even its Popular Nigerian English (PNE) variant which is called Pidgin English. Consequently, expressions such as ‘u’ for ‘you’ ‘gr8t’ for ‘great’, ‘ur/urs’ for ‘your/yours’, among other deviational patterns, have crept into their writing consciousness in classes and examinations, which make a lot of ‘sense’ in informal settings among the youths, but smacks of sub literacy in formal writing situations under which they are being trained. As well, shortened forms of words and phrases such ‘LOL’, ‘K,’ ‘IJNA,’ ‘Y’, etc., are common sights in their writings. This development can have serious implication for effective and efficient writing among Nigerian youths, especially in formal situations. The study suggests that because it has been demonstrated that effective and efficient writing can improve comprehension of content in any discipline, enabling students to practice analysis, synthesis, and other skills that constitute critical, creative, and even civic thinking, students should be encouraged to write effectively and efficiently as more writing equals more learning even in the age of the new media (social media). It advises that further studies should be carried out on the deviational patterns and shortened forms of English words and phrases which are commonly used by youths in Nigeria and elsewhere, with a view to possibly getting the ‘new words’ standardized by the relevant educational authorities to ensure uniformity in usage, and to keep pace with the dynamically trendy youth/social media culture.
In many developing countries Performance-Based Pay rewards (PBP) are a solution for improving teacher motivation. This study tested examines how teachers in Edo State, Nigeria felt about monetary incentives to increase job performance. Random sampling was used selecting a 20% sample of 164 of 820 teachers. Participants completed a questionnaire, and the data were analyzed using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The study confirms no significant relationship between monetary incentives and teacher performance. Some possible explanations are provided and conclude that the use of monetary incentives in education in the state of Edo, Nigeria should be further reviewed.
The study examined the learning environment as a challenge to the provision of quality early childhood education in public primary schools in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study while a total of 117 teachers were sampled from a population of 468 in all the public primary schools in the locality. Data was collected using random sampling. The instrument used was a questionnaire entitled "Challenges of Early Childhood Education Questionnaire" (CECEQ) while the mean and standard deviation was used to answer the research questions in the study. The findings revealed there are no appropriate school facilities and learning materials in public schools for the teaching of the pre-primary school pupils in Esan West Local Government Area. Hence, it was recommended that the relevant authorities such as the ministry of education, among other development agencies, should facilitate the provision of adequate instructional materials such as toys, books, charts, educational media technology and school facilities such as toilets and game equipment so as to ensure the holistic development of preschoolers.
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