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ABSTRACT

The study is aimed at finding a survey of the factors responsible for students poor performance in shorthand in polytechnics in Enugu. In search of the required information, the researcher administered questionnaires to 100 respondents that made up the population for this study. The information gathered were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentage. A number of factors were identified to be responsible for mass failure of students in shorthand. They include, Inadequate preparation on the part of students before examinations, lack of interest in shorthand on the parts of students, poor background of students in English language among others. Based on the findings, the study recommended among other that the government should provide the institutions with necessary equipment, introduce motivational incentives to lecturers and students, encourage authors to publish adequate textbooks on shorthand and make sure that all the necessary shorthand textbooks are available in all the libraries in the country. Also, students should develop interest in shorthand and devote much time in practicing it.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In Nigerian, there are many system of education that will be beneficial to citizens and the society in terms of job opportunities and self reliance. This system of education laid more emphasis on vocational courses. Shorthand is a course in secretarial studies that leads to the acquisition of a particular skill and offer workers adequate self-expression, more opportunities for creative thinking and physical manipulation of modern equipments. Shorthand is one of the main subject offered by secretarial studies department in various tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Unfortunately, many students of secretarial studies or business education (secretarial option) find the mastery of shorthand an obstacle to the realization of their educational ambition. In schools, the study of shorthand has been a difficult task to both students and lecturers.

The lecturers find it uneasy to impact the knowledge to the students, while on the other hand the students find it difficult to master the art as to produce accurate transcription or get to the standard as many required of them. Some of the problems encountered by the students of shorthand include poor knowledge of English, bad typewriters for transcription, bad cassette recorders, lack of interest, poor ventilation, uncomfortable sitting arrangement and poor accommodation etc. which should facilitate shorthand writing. Lack of adequate teaching equipment and fear on the part of the students has prompted the researcher to carry out thus study with a view of finding solutions to these problems. Students treat shorthand like every other subject, they only study it during examination periods and as such perform badly. The reason for choosing shorthand among other subject for this work is because of its importance to the business world and the society at large without adequate alternative.

In the secretarial profession upon which the researcher, will want to base this research, it has been discovered that many people choose the secretarial profession for one reason or the other. Normally, people are enthusiastic and motivated to perform better in a course of study when they are aware of the benefit they will get from the study of such courses like shorthand, typewriting, audio typing, transcription, computer operation and word processor manipulation. Whatever be the motivate of the people for doing the course, they should bear in mind that it is very important that the basic shorthand and typewriting that qualifies anybody to be called a secretary, must not be tossed to the wind.

Much has been said in recent years about the declining standard and disappointing examination results in shorthand while this may be some what exaggerated, lecturers are well aware that the performance of many students fall short of their potentials example the result of Institute of management and Technology, Enugu declined seriously in the year 2001 academic session, due to students inability to synthesize and retain what they had learnt in shorthand subject thus being unable to deliver positive result and students negative attitude to the learning of shorthand or is it inadequate teaching of the course and lack of equipment and materials for study.