Theater Arts as a Medium for Communicating COVID19 Protocols among Secondary Schools in Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study surveyed theatre arts medium that could be used to communicate COVID 19 safety protocols to students and teachers in Boarding Secondary Schools (BSS) and Day Secondary Schools (DSS) in Benue state. The population comprised all the teachers and students in Boarding and Day Secondary Schools in the three Educational Zones (A, B and C) of Benue State. The sample consists of 120 teachers and 1,600 students randomly selected from 36 boarding and day secondary schools in the study area. Secondary Schools Teachers Awareness Inventory (SSTAI) and Secondary Schools Students Awareness Inventory (SSSAI) were used for data collection. The instruments were validated by two experts, one in Theatre Arts and one in Test and Measurement. The reliability coefficient of the instruments was determined using Cronbach alpha and internal consistencies of instruments were obtained as 0.70 and 0.68 respectively. The data collected was analyzed using simple percentages based on frequency count as well as mean. The findings revealed that only 41.5% and 36.6% of teachers in BSS and DSS are aware of theatre arts mediums such as; dramatic and debating clubs, cultural dance, art festivals, miming as mediums for communicating COVID 19 protocols. Similarly, only 2.5% and 2.1% of the students are aware of same medium. The study also discovered that although arts subjects are offered in secondary schools to a great extent, both BSS and DSS practice theatre arts only to less extent with total means of 2.38 and 2.14 which could not actually avail the students and teachers the opportunity to use theatre arts as a medium of communication. Based on the findings, The study recommended based on the findings that; School owners, administrators and all stakeholders in education should ensure that both teachers and students in both boarding and day secondary schools are aware of theatre arts mediums such as; drama, Quiz and debating clubs, cultural dances, music and craft festivals, miming which are not just for entertainments, but for meaningful communication when need arises. Government and other relevant agencies should ensure that teachers and students attend excursions in theatre arts outfits regularly, also theatre arts tutors should be employed in all schools with adequate provision for teaching halls and aids such as costumes of various cultures to aid the teaching/learning and practice (rehearsals) of theatre arts.