Assessment of Teachers’ Utilization of Instructional Materials for Effective Teaching in Early Childhood Care and Education Centres in Yola North LGA, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was designed to assess teachers’ utilization of instructional materials for effective teaching in Early Child Care Development Centres in Yola-North LGA of Adamawa State, Nigeria. The study's population comprises all sixty-six (66) teachers from the 23 public Early Childhood Care Education Centres in Yola-North LGA of Adamawa State. The researchers have opted to include sixty-six (66) teachers and to collect quantitative data the researchers developed and distributed a structured questionnaire to the teachers. The data collected for the study were analysed to answer the research questions raised for the study with a decision mean value of 2.50. indicating that any item with a mean score >2.50 is accepted where as an item with a mean score <2.50 is rejected. The finding of the study revealed that although there exists a significant awareness of the significance of instructional materials among ECCE educators in Yola North, their actual application is frequently obstructed by systemic issues such as insufficient funding, a scarcity of locally sourced materials, and inadequate professional development opportunities. The findings indicate that when educators successfully incorporate visual, auditory, and tactile resources, there is a noticeable enhancement in student engagement and information retention. Based on these findings, the researchers recommended that: There is a necessity to enhance Teacher Proficiency through Continuous Professional Development and There is a necessity to institutionalize the Culture of Improvisation of instructional materials.