Social Studies

1. HUMAN Resources

2. Sub-topics

4. What is a resource?
• Anything natural or
physical which can be
harnessed to create wealth
or improve the standard of
living of people.
Examples:
Land
Forests
Water
Animal
Minerals
Human beings

6. Classification of resources
Human
Refers to the skills, talents and
abilities which humans possess.
Natural/Physical
• Gifts of nature such as land, water,
minerals, forests, animals, sunlight
and wind.

8. The Importance of Human Resources
• Humans use their skill, abilities and talents to solve problems creatively.
Example:
Hybrid varieties of seeds and plants were developed in the 1950’s when there
was a worldwide shortage of food.
This led to increased food production to feed the world’s growing population.
This increase of food production is what was referred to as the ‘Green
Revolution’.

9. Major crises in human history
• Poliomyelitis
• Smallpox
• Typhoid
• Yellow fever
• Cholera
• Population growth
Finding solutions to the world’s
problems, has helped to ensure the
longevity of the human race.

10. In order to provide relaxation and entertainment, a variety of skills, talents and abilities are
combined to produce entertaining music, thrillingnovels, imaginative poetry and exotic pieces
of art.

11. Developing Human Resource
1.Education
Human beings are born with certain innate skills, talents and abilities.
The main aim of education is to tap these resources in individuals and develop
them to the fullest potential.
Kindergarten – Primary- Secondary – Tertiary
These levels of education caters for the intellectual, physical, social, emotional
and spiritual development of the individual

15. What is education?
It is the acquisition of
knowledge and skill.

16. Facts about education
• The more educated people become, the more likely they are to achieve high
levels of productivity.
• Education allows people and government to make better use of resources.

17. Functions of education
• To prepare the individual for the world of work.
• To ensure the all-around development of the individual.
• To prepare the individual to live in society.
• To perpetuate or change cultural values.
• To maintain religious and moral values.
• To develop the latent ability of the individual.
• To make the individual literate.
• To reduce social inequity.

18. Activity
• Make a list of recreational activities at your school.
• In which activity do you participate?
• Why did you choose this activity?
• Are there any others in which you would like to be involved?

19. Problems in the education system
• Lack of adequate and proper furniture
• Overcrowding in schools
• Inadequate provision for the mentally and physically challenged
• Overworked and underpaid teachers
• High drop-out rates in some areas
• Shortage of teachers especially for particular subjects such as the sciences
• Increasing crime and violence in school
• Poor teacher-parent relationship. There is very little involvement of parents and communities in
the welfare of their children.

20. Activities
• You are a member of an interest group in your community
and you are expected to meet with the Minister of Education
to discuss the problems of education in your society.
• Prepare your address by outlining THREE basic functions
of education in your country. Examine THREE
shortcomings of your country's present system of education
and suggest THREE ways in which the business community
can help to improve the system.

21. GLOSSARY
 population
 birth rate
 death rate
 natural increase
 life expectancy
 infant mortality rate fertility
rate
 migration
 immigration
 emigration,
 net migration
 brain drain
 urbanization
 depopulation
 population density
 population distribution
 dependency ratio
 employment
 unemployment
 underemployment
unemployable
 labor force
 sustainable development
 population census
 resource
 human resource

22. DEVELOPMENT AND THE USE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
The Human Resource – the people, their numbers,
skills and abilities – is by far the most valuable
resource that any country can have.
The quality of the human resource ultimately
determines the ability of any nation to create the
wealth necessary for economic growth.
It is the people who must use their skills and abilities
to harness and use available physical resources.