THE CAUSES OF STUDENT UNREST IN
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
A STUDY OF SANGA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
OF KADUNA STATE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
to the Study
For some years now students’ activities or unrest has
become a permanent feature of our schools, especially in the University. Like
the strike actions by teachers, students’
unrest has from time to time led to the loss of sizeable proportion of the
school year. In some instances, whole academic sessions have been lost because
of the unrest in our schools. Odo, Ede and Ezike (2000). In line with the above
assertion, Aguene (1999) noted that students’ unrest has been on the increase
in recent years in the University or Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of
Education. According to him, students’ unrest is a social or political
situation in which people protest and tend to behave violently.
In his own view, Okadigbo (1998)
defined students unrest as a psychological and physical conditions or
demonstrations that arrest public attention or dramatize the condition between
the students and the authorities Hart (2000) observed that students unrest in
society is a social act which has to do with the demonstration by the students
as a result of inadequate management by the authority. Hart further stage in
human life. According to him, it can take place even in the family, school,
church and society at large.
According to him, Nwogu (1992), the
schools is on the increase and many people are becoming worried due to its
effects in Nigeria. He noted that students unrest have claimed life and
properties resulting to disruption of academic programmes, payment of damages
by parents of the students unable to finish their secondary education within
the given period.
Students’ unrest in our secondary
schools are brought about by many factors such factors as identified by Aguene
(1999) includes civil rights activities, renewed interest in political affairs,
educational reform and social restriction upon the students’ individual
behaviour.
Akukwe (1998) posited that students’
unrest is likely to occur when certain demand of the students are turned down.
In some cases as Akukwe further stated students’ protests and demonstration
facilities improvement or challenges. In line with the above, Adibe (1997)
opined that students’ protests and demonstration are ways of getting attention
denied them at home, at school and even the society at large.
In his own view, Aguene (1998) noted
that following causes of students’ unrest in schools, exploitation of student,
inadequate facilities in schools, lack of proper management, autocratic system
of leadership in school as well as insecurity of the students.
Students unrest has debilitating
effects on the standard of education as noted by Odo et al (2002), the
leadership potential of our tomorrow’s leaders are modeled in the school
environment and if our young stars should be taken to the streets in the
violent demonstration if simply means that the future of our great nation is
black.
It was also observed by Nwogu (1998)
that students unrest has resulted to the destruction of laboratories, libraries
and even burning down of schools’ building beyond repair which is likely to
affect many people as well as the academic calendar. In the heights of the
above effects of students unrest and many others that have been left out for
reasons of time and space.
The standard of education in Nigeria
as noted by Odo et al (2000), has been on a steady decline. They went further
to state that there is no doubt that a lots needs to be done to correct this
ugly situation.
To get rid of this trend, Onum
(1993) pointed out that the government should provide adequate infrastructures
to schools such as laboratories, libraries, classroom, sport facilities etc. In
line with the above assertion, Aduia (1998), maintained that there should be
provisions of conducive teaching and learning environment that facilitates
learning and enhance the attainment of educational objectives. He equally
stated that guidance services should be introduced in schools to reduce the
incidence of unrest among the students. All these strategies appear to be
lacking in secondary schools in Sanga Local Government Area of Kadunna State
with a view to improving or promoting
academic excellence among the students.
1.2 Statement
of the Problem
There is a serious concern about the falling standard
of education owning to increase students’ unrest in our secondary schools.
According to Odo et al, sizeable proportion of the school year or even a while
session have been lost because of unrest in our schools and this has a
debilitating effects on the standard of education.
Students’ unrest as a matter of
facts have claimed many lives and properties in our school today. School
principals, teachers etc, are being wounded or even killed in some instances.
Even parents suffer payment of damages done by their children during or after
demonstration. It is high time the government as well as private individuals
and organizations rose to their responsibilities because if nothing is done to
correct this ugly situation, more damages will be done to our education
standard. The result will be the production of graduates who cannot defend
their certificates.
It is based on this background that
the researcher is motivated to investigate the causes of students’ unrest in
secondary schools in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State with a view
to evolving ways of controlling students’ unrest in secondary schools in the
areas.
1.3 Purpose
of the Study
The main purpose of the study is to
find out the causes of students unrest in secondary schools in Sanga Local
Government Area of Kaduna State specifically the study is designed to:
1.
Find out the
extent to which lack of teaching staff leads to poor performance of students in
secondary schools in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
2.
Find out the
extent to which mismanagement of school fund and properties leads to students’
unrest in secondary schools in Government Area of Kaduna State.
3.
Find out the
extent to which lack of basic facilities in schools leads to students unrest in
secondary schools in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
4.
Find out the
effect of students unrest on academic performance of students in secondary
schools in Sanga Local Government of Kaduna State.
5.
Find out the ways
of controlling students’ unrest in secondary schools in Sanga Local Government
Area of Kaduna State.
1.4 Significance
of the Study
Incidence of students’ unrest in
secondary school have made several headlines in our national dailies. This
shows that the wave of students’ unrest is on the increase. The researcher is
therefore motivated to carry out this study in order to find out the causes of
students unrest in secondary schools in Sanga Local Government of Kaduna
State.
The study will be significant to students,
teachers to find the situation to promote academic excellence.
The result of the study will also
help students to know the adverse effects of students unrest on them and their
academic programmes. It will help them to develop good report with the school
authority and resort to peaceful move in setting their differences through
this; the goals/objectives of educations will be achieved without much job.
Since, the study aimed at
identifying and finding solutions to the causes of students’ unrest in secondary
schools, parents and the government start the benefit of saving the money with
which they pay for damages done by the students.
The study will also be of immense
benefit to guidance and counselors who from the result of the study, will find
out the causes and consequences of students unrest. They will device a rightful
approach to such situation instill in the students a sense of work and
responsibility. The students will also serve as a stepping stone to other
researchers who would to carry out a study in other relevant areas.
1.5 Scope
of the Study
The study focused on analysis of
students unrest causes, effects and control. The study also sough to find out
how lack of teaching staff as well as performance in secondary schools. The
study also –X-rayed the extent the extent to which lack of facilities and
mismanagement of school funds and properties lead to unrest in school. The
study evolved ways if controlling students’ unrest in secondary schools in Sanga
Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
1.6 Research
Questions
The following research questions are formulated to
guide the study-:
1.
To what extent
does lack of teaching staff lead to poor performance of students in secondary
schools in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State?
2.
To what extent
does mismanagement of school fund and properties leads to students’ unrest in
secondary schools in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State?
3.
To what extent in
schools lead to students’ unrest in secondary schools in Sanga Local Government
Area of Kaduna State?
4.
What are the
effects students unrest on the academic performance of students in secondary
schools in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State?
What are the ways of controlling students’ unrest in
secondary schools in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State?
CHAPTER
THREE
METHODOLOGY
This chapter dealt with the method employed by the
researcher in the collection or gathering of information for the study. It is
discussed under the dowelling sub-headings design of the study area of the
study, population of the study, sample and sampling techniques, instrument for
date collection, validation of instrument, method of data collection data
collection and method of data analysis.
3.1 Research
Design
The design of the study was a descriptive survey. This
according to Madubum (1999) is one that
is directed toward determining the nature of situation as it exists at the time
of the study or in other words, it determines the present status of given
phenomenon.
3.2 Area
of the Study
The area of the study in Sanga Local Government Area
of Kaduna State. It made up of fourteen secondary schools. The secondary
schools, are stated as follows:-
1.
Special science
Igbeagu
2.
Community
secondary school Iboko
3.
Boys secondary
school Iboko
4.
Ezza Inyimagu
Community Secondary School Enyigwe
5.
Ezza Inyimagu
Community Secondary school Iziogo
6.
Community
Secondary School Nwofe
7.
Ndiegu Agbaja
Community Secondary school
8.
Queen’s Secondary
School Nwofe
9.
Vocational
Secondary School Nwofe
10.
Aqunas Secondary
School Sharon
11.
John Calvin
Secondary School Sharon
12.
Twelve apostles
secondary school Sharon
13.
Holy child
secondary school Sharon
14.
Ndeze community
secondary school
3.3 Population
of the Study
The population of this study is made up of four
thousand two hundred made and female students of fourteen public secondary
schools in Sanga Local Government Area.
The population compressed of boys
secondary schools, girls secondary schools and mixed secondary schools in Sanga
Local Government Area. The contribution is as follows. Boys secondary schools
have one thousand students, girls secondary schools have one thousand three
hundreds and mixed secondary schools have one thousand nine hundred students.
3.4 Sample
and Sampling Techniques
The population was sampled using random techniques.
The number of the students within the fourteen secondary school was too large
so the researcher decided to use 5% of the entire population which is for
hundred and ten students randomly sampled from the fourteen public secondary
schools in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
3.5 Validation
and Reliability of the Instrument
A draft of the questionnaires was first presented to
the project supervisor who made the necessary corrections based on the
language, content and structure. The instrument wad equally presented to two
senior lecturer in the educational field. These lecturers vetted each items in
terms of adequacy of instrument and sentence structure.
Based on their comment and
suggestions some of the original items were dropped meanwhile the idea and
suggestions of those expected were incorporated in the final questionnaires
shown in the appendix II methods of administration and data collection.
The copies of the questionnaire were
distributed to the students (respondents0 in their respective schools by the
researcher and four (4) secondary schools in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna
State.
Each respondent complied by filling
the questionnaires while the researcher waited to collect after completion none
of the questionnaires was lost.
3.6 Method
of Data Collection
The instrument for data collection
was a structured questionnaire designed by the researcher. It contained items
divided section A, B, A and D which the respondents are expected to indicate by
ticking the extent he or she agreed with each statement made, the scale is
strongly agree (SA) of Agree (A) Disagree (D) or strongly disagree (SD). It was
a twenty filed items questionnaire 1-15 in section (a) was structured to elicit
information on the extent. To which students unrest in secondary schools. In
section B, item 6-10 sought information on the extent to which mismanagement of
school funds and properties lead to students unrest in secondary schools
section C, through items 11-15 elicit information on the extent to which lack
of basic facilities in the schools leads to unrest in secondary schools. Items
16-20 in section D, sought information in the effects of students’ unrest on
the academic performance of students in secondary schools.
Finally, items 21-25 in section E
sought information on ways of controlling students’ unrest in secondary
schools.
3.7 Method of Data Analysis
The researcher questions were answered on individuals
items basis using mean, standard deviation and frequently distribution to
analyze the data collected. The means used for decision rule is 2.5 a means of
2.5 and above was accepted while a means below 2.5 was rejected. 4 points
modified like; 4 scale was used thus: strongly Agree (SA) 4 points, Agree (A) 3
point, Disagree (D) 2 point and strongly Disagree (SA) 1 point.