Appraisal of Students’ Academic Performance in Shorthand in College of Education, Warri

Abstract

There are complaints of perennial poor performance of students in shorthand at both secondary schools and tertiary institutions ‘(colleges of education, polytechnics and universities) as a result of not mastering the relevant skills taught by the teachers which has become a major issue in the recent time. This has posed a major concern to the business educators. Hence this study was embarked upon to appraise those skills which the students have not mastered. These skills are dictations and transcription, phrasing of special outlines, writing of distinctive outlines, short forms and writing and reading from printed materials. Six research questions were raised. The design of the study was quasi- experimental. An achievement test consisting of the above mentioned areas of skills was constructed and administered to 593 students of business education students of 100 level (introductory level), 200 level (intermediate level) and 300 level (higher level) of College of Education, Warn. The data were analysed using percentages. The study revealed that there was high rate of failure in dictation and transcription, followed by phrasing of special outlines, writing of special outlines, short forms and transcribing from printed materials. Recommendations were made for improving the teaching of those topics where the students have high rate of failures.