PERCEPTION OF PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS TOWARDS INTRODUCTION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING IN CIVIC EDUCATION PROGRAMMES

Abstract

This study assessed the perception of the Civic Education pre-service teachers on their engagement in community service during the course of their study. The study examined the perception of pre-services Civic Education teachers on the usefulness of community service and identify the contributions of community service projects to pre-service teachers’ development of personal skills.  The study employed descriptive survey research design. One hundred and twenty five (125) students were selected to form the sample for the study using stratified sampling technique.  Data collected through structure questionnaire analysed using descriptive statistics.  Findings showed that the urge to contribute to a better society, usefulness of the service to the community encourages majority of the students to participate in the project. Community service helps to develop major degree of competency in the participants. Based on the findings, it was recommended that teachers of Civic Education should always engage the students’ in services that are beneficial to the community and Civic Education teachers should always earnest the potentials of community service as it can help students to develop positive skills and gain more knowledge while on their field work.