ABSTRACT

This research was designed to investigate the causes of cultism and its effect on academic performance of secondary school students. The investigation was carried out based on some research questions formulated by the researcher to elicit the necessary information from the despondence. The respondents were required to give other opinion about the appropriate measures put in place to check and curtail cult activities in secondary schools in the local government area and possibly, the wide spread of cultism. In carrying out the research, questionnaires were used to gather information from respondents, which cut across secondary students. The data collected was tabulated and analyzed appropriately. The statistical procedure used in this research work to analyze the data collected was the simple percentage.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Chapter one – introduction    

Background of the study                                        

Statement of problem

Purpose of study

Significance of the study

Scope of study

Limitation

Definition of terms

Chapter two        

Review Of Related Literature

Chapter three      

Population

Sample

Sampling procedure

Research instrument

Administration of data collection

Method of data analysis

Analysis of data

Chapter four        

Presentation, analysis and discussion of result

Chapter five        

Summary

Recommendation

Conclusion

References

Questionnaire     

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

“According to watch tower magazine of June 1st 1977” much as been written in news papers, magazines and books about the lurid deeds of cult groups. The detail of the wide spread of violent activities called cult group had been cured on national television and radio as well It has become a major problem for the police officers in both small and bigger cities such as America Canada and in Nigeria e.t.c basically in this country (Nigeria) cult activities had led to wanton destruction of lives and properties and also educational activities in our secondary schools of learning. For example, in Uselu secondary schools on the 15th of February 2007. a clash between the black axe and the Eiye cult groups left many students injured. On another occasion, in the same school (Uselu) on 29th June 2008 a boy name Osas was attacked and spent several months at the hospital. In Adolor College, on play 16th 2008, innocent students were attacked by a cult group beating and taking their valuables. Recently in Uselu secondary school, on 16thJune 2009, two girls (students of Uselu Secondary school) were rapped as they were about been initiated into a cult group.

          Therefore, these horrible cult activities have contributed in no small measure to the supervision of many students from school and also to the incessant closure of schools. In a nut shell, cultism has become a matter of concern not only to parents and teachers but also to government in general. James V.I. Ishekhure (2005). It is not gain saying that cultism is satanic all over the world youths are the easy prey to these satanic groups. The future of our nations (Nigeria) lies in the hands of today youth. If cultism is playing our citadels of learning (where the mind and character of youths are being shaped for good) then the very foundation of our national development is shaking. This student therefore is to examine the causes and effects of cultism on the academic performance on secondary school students

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

          It has been seen that many people across the strata of the society have.       That the standard and academic performance of secondary school students in Nigeria is falling very fast, it is against this background that geared towards investigating the problem of cultism in our secondary schools and its effect on student’s academic performance are as follows:

1.    It causes tension to other students not involved in such an act

2.    It causes insecurity.

When we say that the effect of cult activities, it means basically that, it causes their feelings to tense or tightly stretched. Also when we say that it causes insecurity incessantly It means basically that, it causes their feelings to tense or tightly stretched also when we say that it causes insecurity incessantly. It means that other students are unsaved continually without stopping.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.    Does cult activities disrupt academic calendar in secondary school?

2.    Does cultism led to violence and loss to lives and properties to the extend that the standard of education in Nigeria has been affected negatively?

3.    Does cultism led to tension and insecurity to students and teachers who are not cultist?

4.    Does peer group influence students to join cult group?

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

          The purpose of the study is to examine the causes and effects of cult activities on the academic performance of secondary school students, the ultimate aim is to create a conducive atmosphere for learning in secondary schools in order to give our young ones sound education

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

          It is hoped that, the findings of this study will be great important to both educators and the students in general. The study will be of benefit to the educational administrators, policy makers and students un particular to identify the causes and effect, of cult activities on educational standard of secondary schools in the country. With that motivating factor that leads the youth to part take or join cult groups unidentified, the school administrators would be in a better position to handle problems related to cultism.

          The study can also lead to other researchable variables with a view to find better solution to cultism in our schools i.e. primary secondary and our higher institutions.

          If the findings and recommendations are utilized as supposed, it will create mush awareness among the parent’s educators and government functionaries to ameliorate problems of cultism in the country

BASIC ASSUMPTION OF THE STUDY

          During the cause of through research to the causes and effects of cult activities (cultism) on the academic performance of secondary school students, the following assumptions were made

1.    that people tends to enter into cultism with that primary notion of fighting for their rights

2.    that people enter into cultism in order to be more relevant of influential

DEFINITION OF TERMS

          From the oxford advance learner’s dictionary the following terms were briefly defined as it was stated in the passages

Plaging: it means an action done deliberately for no good reason

Exasperation: it means getting extremely annoyed or irritated of solution that one can do nothing to improve

Incessant closure: it means to process of closing or an act of continuing without stopping

Curb the Menace: it means to restrain word of threatening or action

Canker worm: it means contemptible evil or dangerous influence that spreads and affects the human behaviors