Problems Of Shorthand To Secretarial Students In Institutions Of Higher Learning ( A Case Study Of Institute Of Management And Technology And Federal Polytechnic Idah)

PROBLEMS OF SHORTHAND TO SECRETARIAL STUDENTS IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING

( A CASE STUDY OF INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY AND FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC IDAH)

ABSTRACT

          The study aim at getting both learners and teachers of shorthand to identify the problems and difficulties which they encounter in their learning and teaching of shorthand.

          The subject were 255 students and shorthand lecturers made up of 155 shorthand students and shorthand lecturers from Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu and 100 shorthand students and shorthand lecturers from Federal Polytechnic Idah (FPI). One set of questionnaire was administered, it was open to both the students and lecturers of shorthand of the 255 questionnaire administered to the students 242 were returned.

          The results shows that majority of the students encounter difficulties and problems in the learning of shorthand. The result also show that the shorthand lecturers encounter difficulties in their teaching of shorthand.

          Some of the difficulties and problems identified include students lack of interest in shorthand, inadequate supply of teaching/learning facilities, inadequate encouragement by the teachers. Student experience tension, inability of students to retain what they have learnt, poor English language background, low vocabulary knowledge, lack of career guidance, students attitude to shorthand, large class etc.

          However, suggestions were made to combat some of the problems, some of which are that the method of selecting shorthand students should be modified to ensure that only those with good English background should be admitted, provision of adequate equipment and learning facilities and reduction in the number of students in class to at least 40.

          Furthermore, the researcher recommends that the English language course content be improve to emphasize spelling and phonetics in order to minimize pronunciation and spelling mistakes and therefore fancily transcription.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page

Approval page

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Abstract

Table of content

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1            Background of the study

1.2            Statement of the problems

1.3            The purpose of the study

1.4            Significance of the study

1.5            Scope of the study

1.6            Hypothesis

1.7            Definition of terms

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1            Research design

3.2            Area of study

3.3            Population of the study

3.4            Sample and sample technique

3.5            Sources of data

3.6            Research instrument/validity

3.7            Method of data analysis.

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1            Empirical results

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1            Summary of findings

5.2            Conclusion

5.3            Recommendations

5.4            Suggestions for further study

Reference:

Appendix

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

          This study on problems of shorthand to secretarial students as an essential tool in achieving secretarial efficiency is directed towards bringing together the major factors that help any shorthand students to achieve his/her goal when effectively followed.

          Any shorthand student that does not follow the fundamentals system of shorthand could not achieve much, so the instructor or lecturers in this subject have to give incentives to drive students in this subjects to work hard so that the aim or objective of the secretarial profession and the individuals could be achieved.

          For many years, people have been failing this course up till the present time. My question now is can we hen agree that shorthand is the most problematic subject in secretarial administration? But why this frequent and mass failure everywhere? It is not unusual to hear that this problem drove many people out of the secretarial profession. But in actual fact, how many people after interested in this profession before they entered it or do you enter into it as the last resort because you cannot fit into any other field of study? The students whop enter into this profession as last resort are the set of students that mostly find unintelligent students and cannot be chosen as the last resort. The interest must be there. It id for those who are extra intelligent and have a good retentive memory and can be fast in learning.

          Many students register for the course simple because they love how the secretaries dress, work and behave, without knowing what us involved. To these set of students, shorthand will not only be ‘head-ache’ to them but will also cause them ‘stomach – ulcer’. I am happy that people are now realizing that secretarial administration is not a dumping ground or a push over profession. Secretarial students should know that extra effort, energy and discipline are required to cope with the course. Running away from shorthand classes will not solve the problems. 

          Shorthand is a stubborn subject and should be handled with all seriousness and consistent practice. In the words of my shorthand lecturer “It is not a last minute subject” you are not to wait till the examination is too close before you start making effort, you cannot make it as that time.