TOWARDS THE RESUSCITATION OF MUSIC EDUCATION IN ANAMBRA STATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS: A PEDAGOGICAL STUDY OF FIVE SCHOOLS IN ONITSHA METROPOLIS

Abstract

Formal Music Education in Anambra Primary School System is gradually going into extinction. This, of course, portends great danger for the future of music education in the secondary and tertiary levels of learning, for one cannot hope for a positive response to music at these levels when music education at the grass root is relegated to the background. The situation is so deplorable and worrisome that certain questions come to mind: Is music not part of primary school education in the state? Is the state government waiting for special intervention from the World Bank or some international organization to kick-off music education as a project? Are there not enough music teachers? Could the attitude of pupils towards music be responsible? Are parental prejudices a limiting factor? Five schools in the state were sampled and studied and it was discovered that the root of these problems were related to the curriculum and its poor implementation, Societal bias, poor attitude of pupils, teacher incompetency, negligence by the government, and lack of adequate teaching/learning facilities. An empirical ideology was suggested to combat the identified problems through developing a feasible curriculum, training and retraining of teachers for effective music teaching, motivating pupils for music through exposure to music concerts/excursions, and sourcing for affordable teaching/learning materials for music instruction. These measures would possibly lend some life to formal music education in the state if adopted.