On the other hand, the teachers in public commercial schools. Many times they rush the shorthand lesson without allowing the students to grasp the rudiment of it. This practice is not encouraging because it affected student’s performance in shorthand. The Nigeria society has a lot to gain and nothing to regret of by a full development of the knowledge in shorthand as course. A good system of education according to Sir Alex clergy (1963) “auris at admitting all children of an area and exposing them to a variety of practical, social intellectual experience and offering the greater possibility of adjusting educationally to meet the needs of individual.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The general notion has been that shorthand is a difficult subject. Its difficult nature can only be compared with that of mathematics according to students’ belief. A good number of students believed that shorthand is beyond human comprehension and as a result of this attitude; many of them have lost interest in the studying of the course. Some student due to the previous fear they have for shorthand even before the dictation start, begin to shiver thereby putting their outlines wrongly and find it difficult to be able to transcribe well  Taking cognizance of this negative attitude developed by students in this topic as a solution to his problem of poor performance in shorthand.

1.3 PURPOSE OF STUDY

Many students who opt do either secretarial studies or business education (secretarial option) finds the mastery of shorthand an obstacle to the realization of their education ambition. This research will focus on identifying the factor that influence students’ performance in shorthand. It will also find out the factor responsible for student believe that shorthand is a very difficult course, highlight some of these factors and also suggest some possible solutions. This approach will remove some fear that shorthand is for the never-do –wells. To also cushion the ideas that shorthand is a very difficult Subject. To encourage the students of the values gained after the completion of the Course. And also to find solutions to some fault in the teaching methods etc.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY.

This research work will be of a great advantage to the entire students of secretarial Studies to be aware of the factors that affect them in learning shorthand and produce adequate solution to these problems. It helps them to develop good attitude towards shorthand that help them in increasing their knowledge of the course in order to meet up.  The result will be of benefit to business establishments especially those businesses that require the service of confidential secretaries. The researcher believes also that the study will help as an extra curriculum for planners, teachers and institutions of learning as well as examining bodies in future. Also teachers will benefit by adopting methods that will provide facilities to improve students’ performance. Furthermore, it will help shorthand writers mostly the beginners who are venturing into the unknown to get the basic principles and techniques behind this course.  Finally, it is hoped that the society at large will enlightened the more of the importance of learning shorthand.

1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study is limited to one of the institutions of learning in Enugu metropolis- this institution of management and technology IMT Enugu and it emphasis on the negative factors affecting the student’s performance in shorthand.This investigation will also be limited to students of the department of Secretarial Administration IMT Enugu.

1.6 RESEARCH PROPOSITION

In order to conduct this study, the following research question are formulate

1. Why is shorthand a problem course offered by secretarial studies?

2. Does background knowledge of English language contribute any quota to the learning of shorthand?

3. Does student attitude, belief, interest orientation have any influence in the mastery of the subject.

4. Does the method of teaching influence the understanding of shorthand?

5. What measurers can be adopted to improve student mastery of shorthand?

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

SHORTHAND: This is the art of representing spoken words by character or signs.

VOWELS: These are sounds produced when the mouth passage is left so open as not to course audible friction. When the mouth is left so open as not to cause audible friction. We have twelve (12) simple vowels

DIPHTHONGS: These are two consecutive vowels pronounced in separate syllabus or separately pronounced.

TRIPTHONGS: This refers to a small tick attached to a diphthong representing any vowel immediately following the diphthong. 

PERFORMANCE: This refers to the level of attainment of students in the art of learning shorthand.

RATE: It refers to a value measured by its relation to some other amount.