TEACHERS’ ROLE IN IDENTIFICATION AND SUPPORT FOR SLOW LEARNERS AT THE LOWER BASIC EDUCATION LEVELS: IMPLICATIONS FOR COUNSELLING

Much attention has been given to the categories of children with special needs in the school system in Nigeria but not much has been done concerning the slow learners in the mainstream classes of normal school system in Abia State. This study therefore investigated teachers’ role in the identification and support for slow learners at the lower basic levels of education in Abia State, Nigeria. To guide the study, three research questions were asked. Descriptive survey research design was used for the study. A total of 300 lower basic education teachers consisted the sample for the study using simple random sampling technique. The data was collected using a 40-item questionnaire titled “Teachers Identification and Support for Slow Learners Questionnaire (TISSLQ)”. The instrument has a reliability index of 84. The data collected was analysed using mean scored test statistic. The result of study showed that slow learners can be identified by low mental ability, short memory, short attention span, interview, observation among others. The result also revealed that one-on-one instruction with the teacher or peers, using different methods of teaching among others provides the most beneficial value to the slow learners. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that individual education programme should be provided to children who are slow learners in addition to counselling services in normal school system in Abia State, Nigeria.  Article visualizations:</

Detection of anti-Chlamydia trachomatis Antibodies in Patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in Abuja, Nigeria

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections are among the sexually transmitted diseases known to increase the risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection. Serum samples from 34 consenting AIDS patients which attended the Government-approved Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) Facility at the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Abuja between April 2005 and March 2006 were screened by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the presence of anti-CT antibodies using ImmunoComb® Chlamydia Bivalent IgG Test kit (Orgenics, Israel). Anti-CT antibodies were detected in ten (29.4%) of the thirty-four patients tested. The detection rate was higher among the females (33.3%) than the males (23.1%). Patients of the age group 31-45 years had the highest detection of anti-C. trachomatis antibodies, followed by those of age group 16-30 years. The result of the present study suggests the presence of anti-CT antibodies in AIDS patients, and reinforces the need for routine screening for anti-CT antibodies as a necessary intervention to reduce the burden of chlamydial diseases and to reduce the risk of HIV and its spread in Nigeria. The outcome of this study also provides justification for the possible inclusion of anti-chlamydial agents in the National AIDS Management Plan to treat associated C. trachomatis infections