A SURVEY OF THE IMPACT OF HIGH RATE OF FAILURES IN SHORTHAND IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SECRETARIAL STUDIES, BENUE STATE POLYTECNIC, UGBOKOLO
ABSTRACT
    This research work was undertaken to survey the impact of the high rate of failures in shorthand in the department of secretarial studies, Benue state Polytechnic, Ugbokolo.
    It consists of five chapters.  Chapter one deals with background of the study, statement of problem, purpose of study, scope of the study, significance of the study, research questions and definition of terms.  While chapter two reviewed some related literatures.
Chapter three consists of research methodology and design, which was discussed by the researcher.  The analysis of the data collected by the researcher was also discussed in chapter four, while chapter five consists of discussions on results, implications, conclusion and recommendations. Possible solutions to the high rate of failures were also enumerated.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1    Background of the study
1.2    Statement of problem
1.3    Purpose of study
1.4    Significance of the study
1.5    Scope of the study
1.6    Research questions
1.7    Definition of terms
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1    Mastery in shorthand
2.2    Basic skill in shorthand
2.3    Aural comprehension
2.4    Method of teaching shorthand
2.5    Causes of high rate of failures in shorthand
2.6    The impact of high rate of failures in shorthand
2.7    Summary of literature review
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN
3.1    Area of study
3.2    Population of study
3.3    Sample and sampling technique
3.4    Sources/instrument for data collection
3.5    Validation of research instrument
3.6    Reliability of research instrument
3.7    Method of administration of research instrument
3.8    Method of data analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
4.1    Analysis of results
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSIONS ON IMPLICATIONS, RESULTS, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1    Discussion on results
5.2    Conclusion
5.3    Implication of the results
5.4    Recommendations
5.5    Suggestions for further research
5.6    Limitation of the study
References
Appendix
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE 1 – 3 THE MEGATIE IMPACTS OF THE HIGH RATE OF FAILURES IN SHORTHAND
TABLE 4 – 5 THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE HIGH RATE OF FAILURES IN SHORTHAND
TABLE 6 – 14  CAUSES OF THE HIGH RATE OF FAILURES IN SHORTHAND
TABLE 15 – 17  CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE SCHOOL AUTHORITIES IN ALLEVIATION THE PROBLEM OF HIGH RATE OF FAILURES
TABLE 18 – 21  POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE HIGH RATE OF FAILURES IN SHORTHAND.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Shorthand is any brief, rapid method of writing that is used in recording the spoken word.
    Samalia (1973) define shorthand as a method of writing rapidly by substituting characters, abbreviations, or symbols for letters, words or phrases.
    These method of writing have been invented and used during ancient and modern times,  by different great men and countries with many system, but the first commercially used phonetic system of shorthand was invented by Sir Isaac Pitman, whose shorthand manual was first published in 1837, to date, it is the most prevalent system in English speaking world outside the united states.  Sir Isaac Pitman used some signs that had been employed by others, what he did was original and important was to organize the principles for using the signs into a dependable system by which all words heard could be written.
    Today, in some industrial nations, shorthand is used in business industry and in some profession to facilitate business transactions.  Historians date the beginning of shorthand with the Greek.  Historian xenophone, who used an ancient Greek system to write the memoirs of Socrates.
    In the fourth century B.C, Marcus Tillius Tiro, a secretary to the Roman Orator cecero, invented a shorthand system called Tironian.  According to Stoddard and scatter good (1983), the time that Tiro invented his system was quite clear and some people were as far as to say that he stole a system used in Greece.  However, most people agree that Tiro’s notes were the first organized system that enable a writer to take down notes as fast as the were said.
    Although shorthand writing has undergone many modifications since its invention.  The Grreg and Pitman methods are the best known systems using symbols.  About 1913, shorthand written by machine was introduced and Greg simplified version of shorthand written by machine was introduced in 1949 Crevised in 1963 and in the latter part of 20th century, the use of shorthand machines became widespread.
    Many of our schools offer shorthand as a course today, and they include secondary, commercial and tertiary institutions.
    The Benue state polytechnic Ugbokolo, started offering secretarial studies as a course in 1983.  as a result, the teaching of typewriting and shorthand was introduced.  Lecturers in this department relied on dictations and general principles of writing shorthand and subsequently transcription in ink.  This has presented the students with problems, they not only grapple with writing shorthand and transcribing in ink but also fight the drudgery of transcribing with machines.  The department does not have Higher National Diploma programme (H.N.D), it only consists of ordinary National Diploma programme (O.N.D).  as a result of this, the students find it very difficult to cope as they are expected to write 120 words per minutes at ND II level, instead of writing it at HND level.
    Shorthand as a course is initially offered by only commercial colleges, but today, many secondary schools offer it because of its importance in industrial revolution as regards technological development in the country.
    Today, our business men and professionals have their interest in time saving devices in order to facilitate business transactions, and this is a very vital tool to the enhancement of the day to day efficiency of today’s secretary.
    For a secretary to become very efficient, he/she is expected to have sound knowledge of shorthand and its principles, but the researcher discovered that the rate of failures in shorthand is very high which poses a big problem in the department of secretarial studies.  If this problem is not solved as quickly as possible, it may give rise to the department producing inefficient secretarial in the future.  This is why the researcher is making this research to find out what really are the causes of this high rate of failures in shorthand and also to find possible ways of solving this problem.
1.2    STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Shorthand has been the bane of most students.  The name “shorthand” spells terror and doom to the students with exception of a few.
    The pitman organization has carried out series of research and emerged with some teaching methods, techniques and even the publication of books, programmed to enable students go through this course with minimum rate o failure.  The government in turn approved several commercial schools were shorthand is being taught and this enabled students to attend extra classes in the evening.  Some schools like the Benue state polytechnic on their part help by dividing the students into groups to stimulate attentiveness and interest from the students.
    In spite of all these measures, the problem of high rate of failures in shorthand still persists.
    This research, therefore, is set out to discover the impact of high rate of failures in shorthand and the possible remedies to this problem.
1.3    PURPOSE OF STUDY
    The follwing are main purpose of this study:-
1.    Evaluate the impact of high rate of failures in shorthand, both negative and positive impacts.
2.    identify the causes of high rate of failures in shorthand
3.    find out the role of the school authorities in alleviating the problems facing the teaching and learning of shorthand.
4.    determine the remedies to the high rate of failures in shorthand.

1.4    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
    The researcher feels that the rate of failures in shorthand is high and that there is possible remedies to minimize it in our schools.
    Therefore, the importance of this research is that it will go a long way to relieve shorthand students of these problems in shorthand.  The government and the school management will from this work, see the need to provide competent teachers of shorthand, build enough and conducive place for lectures and allocate enough time for lectures.  The students on their part will from this work learn to practice their shorthand on a daily bases for excellency.
    This research work will also benefit  the up-coming students of shorthand to avoid the mistake of their predecessors.
1.5    SCOPE OF THE STUDY
    The scope of this study covers the department of secretarial studies, Benue state polytechnic Ugbokolo, which consists of only O.N.D students.

1.6    RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.    What are the negative impact of high rate of failures in shorthand?
2.    what are the positive impact of high rate of failures in shorthand?
3.    what are the causes of high rate of failures in shorthand?
4.    what has the school authorities done in alleviating the problems?
5.    how can we solve the problem of high rate of failures in shorthand?
1.7    DIFINITION OF TERMS
Memoirs – A written record or account of somebody’s life, important events usually based on personal knowledge.
Grapple – To struggle.
Bene – Cause of great trouble or annoyance
Phonetic -    A method of writing speech sounds using a symbol for each distinct sound.
Orator-    A person who makes formal speech in public.
Invented – something that has be created which has not existed before.
Paralle – similar, running side by side.
Pertinent – relevant, important
Sequel – something that happened after or as a result of an earlier event.
Assertion – A strong statement claiming the truth of something.
Expedition – An organized journey with a particular aim.
Galtic – Has to do with language.\W.P.M – Words per minutes.
Exaggerate – To make something seem larger, bigger that it really is.
Modification – The action of changing something to improve it.
Hamper – To prevent free movement or activity.
Grasp – To understand something fully.
Aural – Concerning the ear or hearing
Dissipation – Harmful pleasure or waste
Stenographer – A shorthand typist.
Figurative – A word of phrase different from its real meaning.
Simutaneous – The act of doing something at the same time.
Fostering – To help the development of something.
Assimilate – To absorb ideas, information in the mind.
Inherent – Existing as a natural or permanent feature.
Improvise – To create music, a part in a play.
Cursiveness – Writing done with letters joined together.
Lucrative – producing much money, profitable.
Inference – A conclusion reached on the bases of knowledge or fact.