CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0  Background to the Study

Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving Image that can be monochrome (black-and-white) or colored, with or without accompanying sound, “television” may also refer specifically to a television set, television programming or television transmission.

Globally, the television world has initiated a transition of emphases from an analogue educational research based on technological development to a digital knowledge based technological development in education. This has made it one of the basic building blocks of modern society. The technological change process has accelerated in tandem to create a new world power. Although television recourses have been looked on as tools for the up liftment of the standard of education in any nation the level of instructional development process leaves much to be desired in Nigerian higher education system.

Recent developments in television have drastically affected educational procedure for improved quality of education offered to students, television resources in instructional delivery in schools will serve as dual purpose and more efficient classroom instruction (Nzewi, 2009; Umoren, 2006). It is in the pursuance of the need to access international best practices that federal government reviewed the national policy on Education (1998) to the current one (NPE,2004) to accommodate the introduction of television system in keeping with the dynamic of social change and its demand, television stratum in Nigeria prepare the student with manpower demand. It is at this level that they should have this first encounter technology.

The advancement in which television resources offer in higher education, can be evident through accessibility to educative programme like “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”. This can only be attained when it is drastically integrated into the programme process in the educational advancement system. Productive situational delivery enhances learners creative and intellectual development through the use of television images, graphics, audio and motion for high quality learning.

1.2   Statement of the Problem

For many years, educational researchers have maintained an interest in the effective prediction of educational advancement among secondary school students. The prediction and explanation of educational advancement and the examination of the factors relating to the academic achievement are topics of greatest importance in different educational levels. Studies have shown that prior academic achievement is an important predictor of performance at other levels of education. Similarly, cognitive ability was found as the strongest predictor of academic achievement. However, some studies confirm that the correlation between cognitive ability and academic achievement tends to decline as students progress in the educational system.

The direct link between television and students’ educational advancement has been the focus of extensive literature during the last two decades. Some of them help students with their learning by improving the communication between them and their teachers (Valasidou and Bousiou, 2005). Leuven et al. (2004) stated that there is no evidence for a relationship between television and students’ educational advancement. In fact, they find a consistently negative and marginally significant relationship between television and some student achievement measures. In support to these, some students may use television programmes to increase their leisure time and have less time to study. Educating channels on television do not necessarily mean increased achievement and educational advancement among secondary school students. Based on all these, the researcher is examining television as an instrument of educational advancement on among secondary school students in Nigeria.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this study is to determine television as an instrument of educational advancement among secondary school students. The specific objectives include:

1.   To examine the influence of ‘who wants to be a millionaire’ television programme on of educational advancement of secondary school students.

2.  To examine the relationship between television and educational advancement of secondary school students.

3.  To examine the effectiveness of television programmes in enhancing educational advancement in secondary schools.

4.  To highlight the disadvantages of television in secondary schools students.

1.4 Research Questions

Those are agitating question towards solving the research topic. In this wise, the research question for this study is highlighted below.

1.   To what extent has ‘who wants to be a millionaire’ television programme influenced the educational advancement of secondary school students?

2.   What is the relationship between television and educational advancement of secondary school students?

3.   What is the effectiveness of television programmes in enhancing educational advancement among secondary schools students?

4.   What are the demerits of television programmes in secondary schools?

1.5   Significance of the Study

As an academic work which intends to pass through scientific scrutiny in terms of empirical analysis, it aims to add to the academic knowledge both for the benefit of researchers and students of great minds, media practitioners and the general public. Importantly, those who want to engage in similar topic will find it very useful by serving as reference topic.

1.6 Rationale of the Study

It is highly terrific to note that despite numerous contributions of new programmes most especially, educational programmes, who wants to be a millionaire is one of the most educative programmes ever aired on television. This among other things however necessitated this research work.

1.7 Scope of the Study

Though, the research topic is all encompassing. But the focus of this work will be to access the influence of ‘who want to be a millionaire’ television programmes among secondary school students.

1.8 Definition of Terms

Instrument: Is a tool or implement for delicate or scientific work.

Television: Is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome (black-and-white) or colored, with or without accompanying sound “television” may also refer specifically to a television programming, or television transmission.

Educational: The wealth of knowledge acquire by an individual after studying particular subject matter or experiencing life lesson that provide an understanding of something.

Advancement: The process of promoting a cause or plan.