CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The most innovative contribution contained in the national [policy of education (2004) to the development and modernization of Nigerian educational system is in the area of secondary education. The policy prescribed a two tier secondary education lasting for a period of six years. A child is required to spend three years of secondary education in junior secondary school and another three years in the senior secondary school, if a child or the student performs well in both continuous assessment (C.A) and terminal examination. Jacobs (1985) enunciated that, the most innovative aspect of junior secondary school is the area of curricula activities which consist of broad or general education, practical opportunities and development of scientific talents. The national junior secondary school curriculum for the first three years of secondary education in Nigeria, is an example. It is designed to provide basic intellectual and practical educational knowledge relevant to the Nigerian society. It is also par of the aim of the curriculum to prepare students formally for jobs as well.
The national policy on education (2004) defined secondary education as the education children receive after primary education and before tertiary stage. The main aim of education is for improvement and performance, the performance is to be continuous in the student as for as education is concerned in order that achievements may be reached in the student. The Longman English Dictionary (2001) defined trends to mean the way a situation is generally developing and changing. Oluikpe (1981) stated that English is seen as a general language in the sense that it is the language different people from different tongue use as a means of communication especially under the colonization of the British. According to Ozohili (2007) English Language is an Anglo fishian language. It is a member of the Germanic common language in the Elbe river region about 3000 years ago. English language is sometimes described as the global international language in communication, science, business etc. It has become a second language for most of the world without anybody disagreeing to every other language.
English language occupies a significant position among all the subjects being taught in all educational institution in Nigeria. Nigeria has taken English language to be its lingua-franca, that is a language generally accepted and used considering its multi tribes. English language is also seen as the most important legacy of the British to Nigeria. It is also pedagogically important as it is the language of instruction in virtually all the levels of education in Nigeria. Onah (1992) opined that English language enjoys a lot of prestige over other Nigeria languages. A credit in English language has become mandatory for transition form primary to secondary school and from secondary school to tertiary institutions. English bestows some status on whosoever speaks it fluently. Education in Nigeria is synonymous to good command of the language. It is no longer viewed as a temporarily borrowed language but has been accepted as part of our linguistic properly (Ozohili 2007) Ezendu (2002) defined science as a body of knowledge, which is required through observation and systematic experimentation.
The Columbia encyclopedia (1999) defined science as an accumulated and systematized learning in general usage restricted to natural phenomenon. Integrated science came in Nigeria in 1968, West Africa Examination council (WAEC) asked (STAN) Science Teachers Association of Nigeria to review and improve the syllabus. Khabela (2002) in Bajah (2005) defined integrated science as an approach to the teaching of science, of which concepts and principles are presented so as to express fundamental unity of scientific thought and avoid premature or undue stress on the unified nature of science, Cohen (2004) had this to say. Integrated science course eliminates the repetition of subject matter form the various sciences and does not recognize the traditional subject boundaries when persistency topics of themes. Chukwuemeka (1991) states that Nigeria Integrated science is inter-disciplinary, Integrated as well because Nigeria Integrated science is an integration of nature of science. Integrated science Integrated materials development in Nigeria was a deliberate attempt to achieving a specific national design.
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