STATUS OF MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMME IN THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN A SOUTHWESTERN SENITORIAL DISTRICT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Music as a subject remains one of the teaching subjects at the primary and secondary school levels in Nigeria that demands skillful teachers for its effective teaching in the classroom. However, the emerging issue is the criticism levied against College of Education as one of the avenues for the preparation of prospective music teachers to teach at the basic levels of education. This paper therefore examined the status of music education programme in the colleges of education in a southwestern senatorial district in Nigeria. The descriptive survey research was guided by three research questions. The respondents for the study comprises 10 music staff and 100 music students making 110 respondents altogether. Descriptive statistic of frequency count, percentages and bar chart were used for data analysis. The findings revealed that though the objectives of music education are relevant and very achievable but it partly promotes cultural continuity. The human resources available are adequate, but the checklist showed that the available music material resources fall below the NCCE bench mark. The findings also revealed that some of the problems confronting the teaching of music in Nigeria include inadequate funding, stigmatization of music students, and overloaded music content among others. The paper recommends a review of music education curriculum content so as to adequately integrate more relevant and local/cultural needs of the society, and more sensitization of the citizenry on the usefulness of music education among others.