Integrating Social Studies Education to Tackle Socioeconomic Challenges in Nigeria: A Case Study of Selected Upper Basic Schools in Gusau Metropolis, Zamfara State

This study assessed the integration of Social Studies education to tackle socioeconomic challenges in Nigeria. It aims to evaluate the impact of integrating Social Studies education on students' understanding of socioeconomic challenges in selected upper-basic schools in Gusau Metropolis, Zamfara State. The paper also aimed to examine the perceptions of students regarding the effectiveness of Social Studies education in addressing socioeconomic issues in Gusau Metropolis and assess the adequacy of the current Social Studies curriculum in equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge to tackle socioeconomic challenges in Gusau Metropolis. A descriptive survey research design was adopted with a population of 2,460 social studies students. The researcher used a questionnaire that addressed 353 students who were selected using a random sampling method. The reliability coefficient of 0.79 was obtained using the Cronbach Alpha. Data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation, which were used to present responses to the research question. One Sample t-test was used to test all the hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. The findings revealed that Social Studies education positively influenced students' understanding of socioeconomic challenges in selected upper basic schools in Gusau Metropolis, Social Studies education has effectiveness in addressing socioeconomic issues in Gusau Metropolis, and the student's perception of the Social Studies curriculum in equipping the students with skills and knowledge necessary to address socioeconomic challenges in Gusau Metropolis was positive. The study concludes that Social Studies is crucial in increasing students' awareness and understanding of socioeconomic issues, fostering critical thinking, and equipping them with the skills necessary to tackle such challenges.