About us
The Department of Arts and Social Science Education is one of the two departments created from the Department of Special Education and Curriculum Studies (now defunct) on 13th March 2014. This was done following the mandate of the National Universities Commission that the Faculty of Education be re-structured in line with best practice. The Faculty submitted a proposal to the University which passed through different stages and committees before Council approval was finally given for the take-off of the Department.
The B. Sc. Ed., B. A. Ed. and B. Ed. programs are designed to provide academic and professional training for teachers in the nation’s secondary schools in the relevant subjects. The programs are structured to produce teachers and educators with a solid background in the concept, knowledge and understanding of education and teaching, as well as the application and use of such knowledge for general improvement of themselves and mankind. They are also structured to produce the right calibre of dedicated professional teachers in both quality and quantity to meet the national curriculum objectives in the various programs at the secondary school level.
Accordingly, students in the Department undergo in-depth courses in their various cognate departments where they acquire sound and relevant concepts, knowledge, attitude and skills which, in conjunction with the courses received in the Faculty, promote the development of positive attitudes needed to excel in their profession in a changing society such as ours. The pedagogical components of the program are offered in the Faculty of Education which also organises twelve weeks (six weeks in the second year and another six weeks in the third year) of compulsory and supervised practice teaching exercise coordinated by the Department in conjunction with the Department of Science and Technology Education (the other teacher education department carved from the old SEC Department).
Consequently, at the end of the minimum four-year program (three years minimum for Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE) graduates from affiliated Colleges of Education),graduates of the Department are deemed to be both professionally and academically prepared to:
- teach English, French, Yoruba, Music, Religious Studies, Fine Arts, History, Economics, Geography and Political Science at both the junior and senior secondary school levels;
- inculcate in the students the spirit and attitude of inquiry, creativity and the ability to think critically, rationally and effectively in solving personal and professional problems; and
- conceive and start their own business ventures.
Undergraduate students are equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes for delivering effective lessons in the secondary school. The postgraduate programs are aimed at producing competent educators in all arts and social science-related disciplines as well as equipping students with the knowledge, attitude and skills necessary for teaching at higher institutions of learning. Furthermore, the postgraduate programs equip students for conducting and evaluating research studies in the fields of curriculum and instruction. Generally, courses offered in curriculum cover issues of theory, design, practice, evaluation, and revision while those in instruction focus subjects listed in the National Policy on Education which are taught in Nigerian secondary schools. Courses offered in the Department are expected to provide adequate professional and academic education for teachers in the nation’s secondary and tertiary schools and personnel for other education-oriented sectors. In addition to teaching courses in curriculum and instruction to students in the programs housed by the Faculty, the Department helps these students with administrative issues such as registration of courses, collation of results and computation of grades via the staff advisory system. Furthermore, the Department, in conjunction with the Department of Science and Technology Education, also houses the teaching practice program for all Parts II and III students in the Faculty as well as M. Ed. students who do not have a degree in Education.
Dr B. A. Adesina,
H.O.D. Department of Arts and Social Science Education, Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Our Vision
The Philosophy of the academic programs housed in the Department is in line with the Nigerian Philosophy of Education as stipulated in the National Policy on Education and adopted by the Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The philosophy is premised upon creating a conducive teaching and learning community, imparting appropriate skills, knowledge, behavior and attitudes; advancing the frontiers of knowledge that are relevant to national and global development, and engendering a sense of commitment and dedication to service, which is pivotal to the teaching profession.
Our Mission
The Departments’ mission is to produce teachers who will be able to teach Economics, Geography, Political Science, English Language, French, Yoruba, History, Religious Studies, Music and Fine Arts at the secondary school level. They are expected to be thoroughly bred and disciplined teachers, with excellent knowledge, attitude and skills, who will be able to demonstrate competence and knowledge in any area of endeavour to be chosen by them after graduation including starting their own businesses. Furthermore, through the postgraduate programs, competent educators in all arts and social science-related disciplines will be produced and equipped with the knowledge, attitude and skills necessary for conducting and evaluating research studies in the fields of curriculum and instruction.
OBJECTIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT
The main objective of the Department is to prepare teachers who are motivated and highly skilled in the teaching profession and their various disciplines and can compete favourably in the world of work. In line with the pursuance of the overall objective, the Department seeks with vigour to:
- produce arts and social science teachers both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels;
- produce teachers and educators with a solid background in the concept, knowledge and understanding of education and teaching, as well as the application and use of such knowledge for general improvement of themselves and mankind;
- ensure the educational growth and development of students in the Arts and Social Science Education programs;
- carry out research and dissemination of research findings on issues related Arts and Social Science Education programs;
- train curriculum specialists with high level competence in the use of evaluative techniques and materials so as to promote meaningful learning outcomes;
- produce the right calibre of dedicated professional social science and arts teachers in sufficient quantity and quality to meet the national needs and contribute to the achievement of the national curriculum objectives of education at the secondary school level; and
- produce social science and arts teachers with a solid background in the concept, knowledge and use of relevant skills and professional abilities.