ASSESSING SOCIAL SKILLS STRATEGY INFLUENCE ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SPECIAL NEEDS LEARNERS AT ADEYEMI FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, ONDO, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA.

EDUCATION

Special needs learners have been recording prior academic performance or dwindling, traceable to myriad of factors, thus, necessitating using social skills strategy in their teaching. Descriptive survey research design was used. The population of the study comprise, learners with physical deformities, emotional problem, health and allied challenges at Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria. The sample size of the study was Ninety (90) respondents, selected through a snowballing sampling techniques. Data was collected through a research instrument, self-designed and structured by the researcher, titled, “Questionnaire on Academic Performance of Special Needs Learners at Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria”. it was fashioned on four Likert rating scale of Strongly Agreed (SA), Agreed (A), Disagreed (D) and Strongly Disagreed (SD) rating on 4, 3, 2, and 1. Two research questions were raised for the study. The research instrument were validated by an expert in Test and measurement, while, its reliability was determined through test retest method at two weeks interval. 0.68 coefficient reliability was obtained. Data generated on the research questions were analyzed, using descriptive statistics (simple percentages, frequency counts and mean), while data collected through FGDs were collated, analyzed and transcribed. Based on the results of the study conclusions were made that social skills strategy could positively influenced communication skills and of speed needs learners with their peers and also enhanced their abilities to solve their academic challenges. Based on the conclusions, recommendation were made that teachers should be well trained on how to be using social skills while teaching special needs learners among others.

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