The Contribution of Social Studies to Cultural Heritage Preservation Among Students in Ekiti State

This study explores the contribution of Social Studies education to cultural heritage preservation attitudes among secondary school students in Ekiti State, South West Nigeria. Cultural heritage, encompassing language, traditional practices, and historical landmarks, is increasingly threatened by urbanisation and globalisation. Social Studies education, with its emphasis on cultural identity and civic engagement, is positioned as a tool for fostering heritage preservation consciousness among young Nigerians. Using a descriptive survey design, 310 SSS2 students from nine schools in Ado Ekiti Local Government Area were surveyed with a validated Cultural Heritage Attitudes Scale. Data were analysed using mean, standard deviation, and Pearson correlation. Findings indicate that students with higher levels of engagement with Social Studies cultural content demonstrated more positive attitudes towards heritage preservation, including willingness to participate in community cultural activities and respect for indigenous knowledge systems. However, the study notes that cultural heritage topics were often treated superficially in lessons. The study recommends that the Social Studies curriculum in Ekiti State incorporate dedicated units on Yoruba cultural heritage, including field visits to heritage sites. Keywords: cultural heritage, Social Studies, preservation, Ekiti State, secondary students.