Role of Secondary School Teachers in the Prevention of Covid-19 Among Their Students in Nnewi North Local Government Area, Anambra State

Abstract

ABSTRACT

There was relatively calmness in the world until the outbreak of Covid-19 in China which gradually spread to other parts of the world including Nigeria and shook the world to its root in the later part of 2019 and throughout the year 2020. This study examined the role of secondary school teachers in the prevention of Covid-19 among their students in Nnewi North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. A sample size of eighty was selected by simple random sampling and convenience sampling techniques. A structured four point rating scale questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.76 and observation method were used in gathering the necessary data suitable for the study which were analyzed with SPSS version 22.0. It was discovered that secondary school teachers have good knowledge of Covid-19 (78.5%) and its preventive measures (85.7%). They agreed that the preventive measures should be taught using lecture method (55.7%), demonstration (87.1%), discussion (54.3%), brainstorming (55.7%), use of audio-visuals (81.4%) and modelling (88.6) but it was observed that the preventive measures were not properly enforced among students. Teachers’ adequate knowledge of Covid-19 preventive measures without enforcing them among the students will not reduce its spread which can lead to general lockdown and subsequent disruption of teaching and learning. Discouraging the use of lecture methods in teaching secondary school students and encouraging secondary school teachers to enforce Covid-19 preventive measures among their students and were recommended as knowledge without application is useless.