Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1, SS 1, SSS1, SSS 1)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 7
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Store Management
Curriculum Theme: Store Management
Previous Lesson: Business Law and Agency.
Topic: Appointment of an Agent
Subject Matter: Appointment of an agent, duties of an agent, rights of an agent, continuation of agency relationship

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Explain the meaning of appointment of an agent.
State common ways an agent can be appointed.
List the duties of an agent in an agency relationship.
List the rights of an agent in an agency relationship.
Apply agency rules to simple store-related scenarios.

Affective Domain:

Show honesty and loyalty when handling tasks on behalf of others.
Demonstrate respect for agreements and instructions in business relationships.

Psychomotor Domain:

Draft a simple appointment note/letter for an agent using a given format.
Complete a short table matching agent duties and rights to examples.

Work in groups to discuss agency scenarios and present findings.
Participate in class discussion by asking and answering questions politely.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
Store Management for Senior Secondary Schools (recommended textbook)
Agency (Principal and Agent) Overview
Agency (Law) Summary
Meaning of Agent and Agency Relationship

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Charts showing duties and rights of an agent
Scenario cards on store transactions (buying, selling, collections, delivery)
Sample appointment letter/note template
Whiteboard and marker

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand how agents are appointed to represent store owners in buying and selling. It also helps pupils know the duties and rights of an agent so they can avoid disputes and handle agency tasks properly.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have basic knowledge of agency relationship, principal, agent, and third party from previous lessons in business law.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Appointment of an Agent

Meaning of Appointment of an Agent

Appointment of an agent is the process by which a principal gives authority to a person (agent) to act on the principal’s behalf in dealing with other persons.

Ways an Agent Can Be Appointed

The following are common ways an agent can be appointed:

Express appointment (oral or written authority clearly given by the principal).
Implied appointment (authority inferred from conduct, circumstances, or business practice).
Appointment by ratification (principal accepts and approves an act done by a person without authority at the time).
Appointment by necessity (authority arises in emergencies to protect the principal’s interest).
Appointment by estoppel (principal’s words or actions make third parties believe someone is an agent, and the principal is bound).

Duties of an Agent

The following are duties of an agent:

To obey the principal’s lawful instructions.
To act with care, skill, and diligence in performing the task.
To act in good faith and in the principal’s best interest.
To keep proper records and render account of money and goods handled.
To keep the principal’s business information confidential.
To avoid conflict of interest and not make secret profits.
To not delegate duties without permission, except where allowed by custom or necessity.

Rights of an Agent

The following are rights of an agent:

Right to agreed remuneration, salary, or commission.
Right to reimbursement of authorised expenses.
Right to indemnity for losses suffered while acting lawfully within authority.
Right of lien (right to retain principal’s goods/documents until payment of money due, where applicable).
Right to be paid for work already done before termination, where the agreement allows.

Application to Store Management

The following are examples of agency situations in stores:

A store owner authorises a sales representative to sell goods and collect payment.
A storekeeper is authorised to receive supplies from a vendor and sign delivery notes.
A purchasing officer buys stock for the store within an agreed budget.
An employee collects debts from customers on behalf of the business.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher presents a short story of a shop owner sending a worker to buy goods and collect payment, then asks pupils to identify who acted for the owner and how authority was given.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond, share similar examples, and identify the agent in the story.
Learning Point: An agent acts on behalf of a principal based on authority given.

Step 2: Meaning of Appointment of an Agent

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains appointment of an agent and writes the definition on the board with a simple store example.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the definition and ask questions where necessary.
Learning Point: Appointment gives authority to an agent to represent the principal.

Step 3: Ways an Agent Can Be Appointed

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains express, implied, ratification, necessity, and estoppel with short examples and guides pupils to match each type to a scenario card.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils classify the scenario cards and present answers briefly.
Learning Point: Agents can be appointed in different ways depending on agreement and circumstances.

Step 4: Duties of an Agent

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher lists duties of an agent and explains how each duty prevents loss, fraud, and conflict in store operations.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils list duties and discuss what may happen when an agent disobeys instructions or keeps poor records.
Learning Point: Agents must be loyal, careful, and accountable to the principal.

Step 5: Rights of an Agent

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains rights of an agent and asks pupils to give examples of remuneration, reimbursement, indemnity, and lien in business situations.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond and write examples in their notebooks.
Learning Point: Agents have rights that protect them while doing authorised work.

Step 6: Group Activity (Agency Scenarios)

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher gives groups short agency scenarios and directs them to identify the type of appointment, one duty involved, and one right that may apply.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils discuss in groups and present answers to the class.
Learning Point: Appointment, duties, and rights can be applied to real store situations.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Define appointment of an agent.
List four ways an agent can be appointed.
State four duties of an agent.
List four rights of an agent.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 0 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summary
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the meaning of appointment of an agent, ways of appointment, duties and rights of an agent, and links the lesson to store practices. The teacher gives a short assignment: pupils write a simple appointment letter for an agent and list three duties and three rights of the agent.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils restate key points and copy the assignment.
Learning Point: Understanding appointment, duties, and rights supports proper store management and reduces disputes.

Lesson Keywords

Appointment – Giving authority to a person to act on another’s behalf.
Agent – Person authorised to act for the principal.
Principal – Person who gives authority to another to act for them.
Express authority – Authority clearly given orally or in writing.
Implied authority – Authority inferred from conduct or circumstances.
Ratification – Principal’s approval of an act done without authority at the time.
Indemnity – Compensation for loss suffered while acting lawfully.
Lien – Right to keep goods/documents until payment is made.

Differentiation

Fast learners classify more scenario cards and draft a full appointment letter with brief terms of authority. Learners who need support use a guided template and a word bank to complete definitions and match duties and rights to examples.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Use familiar examples such as shop attendants, purchasing officers, sales representatives, and delivery handlers to explain appointment and authority. Emphasize accountability and record keeping, and avoid legal jargon by using short, clear explanations and simple scenarios.