THE INFLUENCE OF PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION ON SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF NURSERY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN GOMBE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

Abstract

This causal comparative study examined the influence of pre-school education on social and emotional development in children in Gombe local government area of Gombe state. Sixty (60) children who were exposed to pre-school education were selected through cluster sampling from six different schools that is 30 boys and 30 girls. Also selected through convenient technique were 60 children who were not exposed to pre-school education in the locality. In all, 120 samples participated in the study. Data were obtained from the parent-child questionnaire made up of 10 items on social development and 10 items on emotional development. Parents reported on their observations of their child’s social and emotional development. Two research hypotheses were formulated for the study. The null hypotheses were tested with student t-test statistic of independent samples at 0.05 level of significance. Overall, the study found that there is no significant influence of pre-school education on either the social and emotional development. Competent and qualified pre-school educators should be recruited by both government and private school proprietors to guide and teach the pupils at this level of education so as to lay a strong foundation for each child future career