CHAPTER ONE
]INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
As a student one deserves to know what to do in the bid to enhance or explore effective performance in his/her educational aspect. It is probably pertinent to even reassure oneself about who a student is in to be doing such as individual under discussion find himself or herself in a college, polytechnics or university setting charges with the task of acquiring knowledge, skills and trying to modify his academic performance the role of living in the midst of other colleague and getting about the acquisition of the desired knowledge which are modified and influenced by both the materials and human features of the environments. The profile for this presentation consists of consideration of the responsibilities of a student. A high light of some factors which can hinder the effective performance of the roles of the students are; 1. Hindrance of one’s self social grove like gang, clique etc 2. Failure to set target to be accomplished. 3. Lack of full knowledge or sometimes disregard for school rules and regulation and the most hindrance is the COEASU strike action which could be the talk on this project.
This project attempts to examine the eect of lecturer strike on the academic performance of students in schools in Nigeria at large and College of Education, Ekiadolor Edo State in particular. The secondary school community is composed of many sta unions; strike by any of these unions has a tendency of lowering the standard of education. In this work, attention will be paid to the impact of Nigeria Union of Teacher (NUT) strike action on student’s academic performance. This is primary because COEASU performs the initial functions of inculcating knowledge on Nigeria secondary schools students. The researcher will also examine the eects COEASU strike has on the quality and standard of school leavers produced from secondary schools.
A study of this nature is necessary because education has the universal function of contributing to the perpetration of societies by transmitting ideals, values and norms from generation to generation thereby preparing the youth for active role in the society. Education also displays the value conflicts that exist between ideals and real norms that are typical of all cultures. Fafunwa (2004) in recantation of the above facts stated that an ideal educational medium should be able to help the beneficiaries, develop the abilities, attitude and others forms of behaviour which are positive value to the society in which they live. Ejoh (2009) also recognized that an ideal education is very important to an individual, his family, his immediate community and the country as a whole. It helps to develop his mental capability, widen his horizon and increases his job options. It is therefore important that every individual acquires basic education. Aristotle (2008) also recognized the indispensable function of education, which he stated in his book that the aims of education should include; a. The realizations of the capabilities and potential of individuals b. The development of the body c. The training of the appetites which is character or moral development d. The development of the intellect or reason.
He further hold that non of the above should be emphasized at the expense of the others In line with the above aims and functions of education, the Nigeria government in its 2001 policy on education are the building; 1. A free and democratic society 2. A just and egalitarian society 3. A United, strong and self-reliant nation 4. A great and dynamic economy 5. A land full of bright and full opportunity for all citizens Presently, education in Nigeria has not been able to achieve the noble objective because it is in deep problems. Paramount among these problems is the incessant COEASUstrike, which has oen disrupted academic activities. Many reasons can be seen responsible for these incessant strikes by the NUT. Prominent among those problems according to COEASUare those of funding, lacks of autonomy and dehumanizing working conditions in trying to find a lasting solution to these problems, the long commission set up by the federal government recommended in their report a 90% funding level for next fieen years 2002-2007. The recommendations were adopted in the agreement between the federal government of Nigeria and the COEASU unfortunately government reneged on the agreement. For instance, funding in 2006 should have been four times more than what was prescribed by the report but fell short of this expectation because of government attitude towards funding education. The economic down turn and the foreign exchange rates did not help matters. Judging from the economic down turn, the review of the agreement which government bluntly turned down. Following this there has been several strikes action by the Nigerian Union of Teachers since then this situation was further aggravated by the way government reacted to NUTS strike action. Instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue with the teachers, the governments sacked some and even went as far as forcefully ejecting them from their official quarters. In addition to the humiliation, government refused to pay them their salaries and other entitlement. As a result of this, most teachers le for the private sectors while some others went to private schools in search of greener pastures. Some student’s looks to crime, while others also secured temporary employments and yet others get involve in street hawking and became juvenile delinquents. The consequence of these strike action has led to a condition fall in education standard.
The conflict between the federal government and teachers has been occurring intermittently in some state secondary schools following from this, it becomes pertinent that a lasting solutions be formed through a comprehensive research on the eect of strike on the academic standard of students. This work intends to do this by drawing government attention to the various steps to be taken in order to eliminate these problems once and for all. Eects of lecturer strike on academic performance of students is principally the effect of strike actions by the academic sta union in Colleges of Education and universalities in Nigeria (ASUU) have had serious side effects on the academic performance of the students. Founded in 1978, t he union organized nationwide strikes to challenge the military regimes of General Mohammed Buhari, General Ibrahim Babangida and general Sani Abacha. The union have also used strike actions to demand fair wages, university autonomy, finding of Nigeria Universities/Colleges of Education. Strike according to Chijioke (2013) “ is an organized work stoppage by a body of workers to enforce compliance with demands made on an employer or a group of employers” generally COLBEN uses strike as a means to force the government to respect the demands of the union. Almost all heads of state and presidents of Nigeria between 2008 and 2013 have been compelled by COLBEN through strike to meet their demands.
Disruptions in academic programs serve as non-motivational factor to the students. It discourages them from leaving. It is not surprising therefore that during strike actions, most students are seen involved in diverse activities such as sexual immorality, cyber scan, pool betting, unnecessary gossip, watching of films and reading comic materials for entertainment purposes rather their reading their books. In the long run, they soon forget about academic and are no longer prepared for class activities which negatively affect their leaving capability
