THE AFFECTATIONS OF CULT ACTIVITIES ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MISSION SCHOOLS (EDUCATION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
ABSTRACT
The research work aimed at examining the affectation of cult activities on the academic performance of secondary school students in mission schools. The research was carried out in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau state where five missions owned secondary schools were randomly selected for the study. From the sample schools, the researcher selected two hundred students from SS One– SS Two, five principles and eighty teachers as the sample units for the study. Research questions and hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. To answer the research questions and hypothesis, the researcher elicited information from the two hundred students, five principles and eighty teachers using a five scale likert structured questionnaire type. The data collected were analyzed using the criteria mean and response mean scores statistical technique and the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using chi-square.
The findings of study revealed the molestation, killing, destruction of properties, drug use, raping and maiming, are the most prevalent activities of cult members in mission secondary schools. The findings of the study also revealed peer pressure as the major causes of students’ involvement in cult practices. The study showed that cult activities have negative influence on the academic performance of senior secondary students in mission schools. Thus, it was revealed that students who are members of cult groups have no regard for academic activities such as attending classes, reading and doing assignment. Secondly, that most cult members rely only on all forms of examination mal-practices to pass their academic tests and examination and thirdly, the study showed that students who involved themselves in cult practices perform poorly at every school examination. The research also revealed that effective teaching and learning of CRK and Civic Education, adequate and proper guidance and counseling services, adequate and regular orientations and public speeches on cultism are ways of sensitizing students on the affectations of cult activities on their academic performance.
Finally, the study revealed that regular sanitization of students on the affectation of cultism, creation of awareness about cultism, setting up special committee in schools to deal with cultism, punishment such as 21 years imprisonment or out right expulsion of students found to be cult members as well as intensive teaching and learning of religious, civic and moral education and establishment of effective counseling unit in schools are ways by which cult practices can be curbed in schools. Based on the findings, recommendations were made; that perpetrator of cult activities in schools should be serious prosecuted and punished, they should be expelled from school or convicted of 21 years imprisonment, that awareness should be created about the affectations of cult activities and that students should be regularly and adequately sensitized about the dangers associated with cult practices in schools. Finally, that counseling services should be made available in our secondary schools more than ever.
