1.0 INTRODUCTION

In-service education refers to an activity which involves schooling and working at the same time.

The effect of in-service education to the teacher cannot be over emphasized; this is more so when one considers the need to grapple with new trends in raiding techniques and the dynamic nature of knowledge as it affect the subject matter to be taught to learners.

There are various ways by which in-service could organize education for teacher’s instructional effectiveness. These include organizing refresher courses and school plant level.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Kwande local government actually is a colonial administrative name of Tiv ward UKONDOGH which literally translated as mountain dwellers because of its high topography, and was formally part of Katsina-Ala division. It was created by General Murtala Mohammed administration in 1976 with Adikpo as the administrative head-quarts. It comprises of Nanev, Usar, Shangev-Ya, Ikyurav-Ya and Turan district four clans. The local government has fifteen council wards and is bounded in the west by Vandeikya local government, in the south by the cross river state in the east by the republic of Cameroon and in the North West by Katsina-Ala and Ushongo local governments respectively.

It also shares a common boundary with Taraba state to the North-east. Kwande local government is the transitional belt between the tropical rain forest of the south and open grassland savannah, vegetation of the north. The entire people of Kwande local government are Christians these include the Roman Catholic and the protestants.

Kwande local government area is blessed with a number of large markets in the territory, prominent among them include Adikpo, Adagi, Ajio, Ichor, Ikyogen, Joto-Aka, Anwase, Abande, Achid, etc. in all the markets all these products mentioned above are sold in large quantity.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In-service training was set up as a result of government pronouncement that by the year (2000) the least qualification of teacher in primary school will be (NCE) Nigeria certificate in education. It was because of this that every teacher want to obtain this certificate and in order to get it, many teachers are attending in-service training.

Due to some problems, not all teachers can go in for regular courses; consequently, there is need for them to merge courses in the in-service training programme.

1.3 RESEARCHERS INTEND TO ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

i. Is there real need for in-service education for teachers?

ii. How do we organize in-service training so that it will not interfere with the primary school programme?

iii. How do we determine those that will go in for in-service training at a given time?

iv. How do we determine the teacher in-service educational programme?

v. What will be the duration of the in-service education programme?

vi. Who funds the academic training?

vii. How do we ensure that teachers use the knowledge gained during in-service training to improve the academic performance of the pupils?

1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The researcher has a number of reasons for writing this project work. Some of the objectives this project is made to serve include the following

i. To sensitize primary school teachers on the need for the in-service training.

ii. To make teachers in particular and the general public to develop a positive attitude towards in-service education.

iii. To provide a working tool for policy makers and education planners who are charged with the responsibility for in-service education.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The research work is vital in the following ways

i. The study will investigate the effect of in-service teacher’s education on the academic performance of primary school pupils.

ii. The project work will also serve as a reference material to other researchers that may intend to undertake a similar work on effect of in-service education on academic performance of primary school pupils.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

Due to the fact that the number of primary schools in kwande local government area is very large and also considering the time factor and financial constraint the researcher only limited his study to eight (8) primary schools selecting two (2) schools each from the four Clans of Kwande local government of Benue state.

Clans

SELECTED SCHOOLS

Jato- Aka (turan)

NKST primary school, Jato-Aka.

RCM primary school, Jato-Aka.

Achia ( Ikurav-ya)

NKST primary school, Achia.

RCM primary school, Achia.

Adikpo (Nanev /Usar

NKST primary school, Adikpo.

RCM primary school, Adikpo

Shangev-ya

NKST primary school, Ajio.

RCM primary school, Ajio.

1.7 DEFINTION OF TERMS

I.S.T.E-simply means in-service teacher education

IN-service-schooling and working at the same time

UKONDUGH-maintain dwellers because of its high topography

REFRESHER COURSES-study courses serving as a review of previous education.

GRAPPLE-hook for grasping; grapnel

WORKSHOP-A place where work is done or seminar to develop a skill or technique

TOPOGRAPHY-The surface feature of an area

COLONIAL-of or pertaining to an area under political control of a distance power.