THE IMPACT OF EDUCATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS IN ARDO KOLA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, TARABA STATE

ABSTRACT This study investigates the influence of Economics teachers’ competence on students’ academic performance in Jalingo Local Government Area of Taraba State. The study adopted adopt survey research design, the survey research is often used to assess thoughts, opinions and feelings. The population of this study comprises of seventeen thousand five hundred and twelve (17,512) consisting of 52 Business Education teachers and 17,460 students in 27 public secondary schools in Jalingo Local Government Area. A sample of one hundred and fifty (150) respondents consisting of 50 teachers and 100 students in Jalingo Local Government Area was selected randomly from the population. One instrument was used for the collection of data for the study. Questionnaire was used as instruments or technique in data collection. The instrument was validated by two experts. Data collected was analyzed using mean and standard deviation. Finding revealed that teacher qualification influences students’ academic performance among secondary school students in Jalingo local government area, Taraba State, Nigeria. Based on the findings, the study recommended among others that teachers should be encouraged to attend both short and long term trainings to have content knowledge of subjects taught and boost the quality of teaching in senior secondary schools, government should ensure adequate selection of competent and qualified teachers to teach in senior secondary schools as well as coordinate teachers to attend subject panels in conferences; seminars and workshops to keep abreast with new teaching approaches. The study concluded that teacher competence has a strong influence on the academic performance of students in Jalingo Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria