Department of Sociology, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos

Abstract

This study assessed History curriculum implementation in secondary schools in Southwestern Nigeria. The
study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population for the study comprised all History
teachers in secondary schools in Southwestern Nigeria. The sample consisted of 49 History teachers selected
using total enumeration sampling technique. Multistage sampling technique was used for this study. Four states
were selected out of the six states in Southwestern Nigeria using simple random sampling technique. Secondary
schools where History is being offered were selected using the purposive sampling technique. From each
school, all teachers of History were selected using total enumeration sampling technique. One research
instrument, History Teachers’ Observation Schedule and Checklist (HTOSC) was used for data collection. Data
collected were subjected to analysis using frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation. The
results revealed that the lecture and presentation methods are observed to be the most commonly used
instructional strategies by the History teachers in Southwestern Nigeria. Furthermore, the instructional
materials available to all selected History teachers in Southwestern, Nigeria are Textbooks, Chalkboards,
Maps, Charts, and Computer with only Chalkboard /Whiteboard being adequate and others not adequate. It is
concluded from the study that after its reintroduction into the Nigerian educational system, History curriculum
implementation in secondary schools in Southwestern Nigeria requires urgent attention as there still exists
inadequacy in the quantity and quality of instructional materials and most History teachers do not make use of
appropriate teaching strategies in the implementation of the curriculum.