SCHOOL READINESS: A COMPETENCE OF SOCIAL- EMOTIONAL SKILLS AMONG PRIMARY ONE PUPIL IN SOUTHEASTERN, NIGERIA
School readiness is not only centered on a child been cognitively or physically ready for school. A child needs social- emotional skills that will enable him or her to succeed in school. Social- emotional skills are critical foundation for academic success and overall well- being in primary school. This study viewed the extent to which primary–one pupils in Southeastern, Nigeria show competence in social-emotional skills (self-awareness, social-awareness and relationship skills) when they enrolled in primary school. The choice of chosen primary one pupil is because; they had finished one year pre- primary school and transit to primary school. So, it was important to view the extent to which primary one pupils showed competence in social- emotional skills as they enrolled into primary school. Previous studies showed that children lack social –emotional skills when they enrolled in formal school. Erikson’s Social-Emotional Human Development theory provided the scheme. Survey design of the correlation approach was applied. Simple random sample technique was applied to pick three (Abia, 320; Anambra’ 416 and Imo, 418) states in southeastern Nigeria. The disproportionate sampling technique was applied to select four Local Government Areas (LGAs) from each of the selected states making 12 LGAs. Five public primary schools that have been existing for not less than twenty years were purposely selected through the use of purposive sampling from each LGA. Simple random sampling technique was applied to select entire class from each school, all having 1200 pupils. Research instruments used werechildren Socio-emotional Skills (r=0.92) rating scales. Analysis of data was conducted with the aid of descriptive statistics. Socio-emotional skills of primary one pupil in Southeastern, Nigeria were (65.0%). It recommended that parents should try harder to inculcate socio- emotional skills in their children at home which will help them later in life. Towards the end of one year pre primary school, Government should set a standard assessment test for all pre-primary school pupils in each state to know the extent to which primary one pupils show competence in social- emotional skills before they transit to primary one. The result of the test will qualify them to primary school.
Keywords: competence, emotional, nigeria, primary, pupil, readiness, school, skills, social-, southeastern