INTEGRATING SECONDARY SCHOOL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE TEACHERS INTO AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE IN ENUGU STATE

Abstract

This research work was conducted to ascertain the feasibility of integrating secondary school agricultural science teachers into agricultural extension service in Enugu State. Data were collected with a well-structured 92 item questionnaire from a sample of 184 secondary school agricultural science teachers and 15 agricultural extension management staff as well as 13 school management staff in Enugu State. This instrument was validated by three experts, one from the Department of Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and two from the Department of Agricultural/Home Economics Education, Michael Okpara university of Agriculture, Umudike. The data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and t-test. The results of the study revealed that Secondary school agricultural science teachers rated themselves competent and interested in the performance of most of the extension functions. There was also no significant difference in the mean ratings of both the male and female secondary school agricultural science teachers on their level of interest in carrying out extension functions. There was also no significant difference in mean ratings of the male and female secondary school agricultural science teachers on the motivational incentives they would derive satisfaction from in performing agricultural extension services. Based on the finding, it was suggested that both the extension management agency and school management agency should act in concert to achieve a hitch-free integration of these teachers into agricultural extension service in Enugu State.