Journal of African Studies and Sustainable Development

This study investigates the application and roles of drama and theatre as a means of educating and developing the children in some selected primary schools in Ago-Iwoye in Ogun State. This study is a quantitative and qualitative research that employs both survey with the use of a designed questionnaires and oral interview methods. The research findings reveals that theatre and drama production in school has contributed to the language development, the social development, the appreciation of cultural heritage, the development of retentive memory in pupils, as well as the appreciation of human and ethical values in the pupils of schools in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State. This study concludes that since most of the public primary schools especially in Ago-Iwoye have incorporated drama and theatre as either co-curricular activities that are used in developing the social lives of their schools and for general child's development, parents will be encouraged and proud to see their children engaged by the school in activities such as drama and theatre because of the overall effects in building confidence and retentive memory in their children. This study therefore recommends that Local governments should employ more specialist teachers in Theatre Arts, Cultural and Creative Arts and performing Arts as teachers in public primary schools, and also organize periodic drama competitions, in order to develop and the arts of drama and theatre at primary schools level.

Open Full Text (PDF)