CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF
THE STUDY
Education plays a great role in developing a person,
by extension group of persons and adversely a nation. An educated country is
sure of acquiring all-round development of a country. Education has the
tenacity of molding a person with great skills which will equip such person for
work on graduating from school. Thus, for a country to achieve sustainable
development, the input of their workforce plays a very vital role, and that is
why it is pertinent for them to be educated. Education brings about new ideas,
innovations, and skills needed to place a country on the right pedestal of
life.
However, the acceptance and utilization of the
aforementioned are based on certain factors like: the content of education,
mode of teaching, availability of learning materials, and learner’s attitude
towards learning. It is very obvious that these factors have a part to play in
either the success or failure of the education system of Nigeria and the
economy as a whole.
The Nigerian society is clouded with good and bad
characters which are found in all sectors of the economy, but the big question
remains, which of them is more prevalent in our society? The negative character
seems to have an upper hand to the good character as it has crawled into
Nigeria’s education system. The education system is characterized by bad
character starting with the top members of different institutions; teaching and
non-teaching and this has indirectly affected the students as they have opted
for the wrong means to satisfy their quest for knowledge (Ademijimi A. 2014).
Sound education has always been a thing of much concern
to all Nigerians in the last decades.
Behavior is termed anti-social or wrong when it goes
against the standards of the laid down rules and principles of the society.
Behavior is also referred to as anti-social when it affects the mental,
economic and social progress of a person, when it badly affects his
relationship with people around him/her and when he negatively affects the
lives of other people (Roberts, 1981). The period of adolescence is a very
critical stage in a person’s life, and that is why anyone at that stage of life
needs to apply extreme care on whatever he/she does to avoid mistakes (Nwankwo,
2001). It is a phase in life where an adolescent wants to try new things, have
a different experience from what he knows and the likes. However, anti-social
life is the type of life that adds no value to a person but rather subtracts,
as it has the tendency of scaring people away from the victim thereby leaving
the person in isolation (Nwankwo et al. 2010).
Moreover, considering the too many damages caused by
anti-social behavior, the Federal government is fighting tooth and nail to curb
this menace and this is why it came up with anti-social behavior unit (ASBU)
and anti-social behavior act in 2003. A report by anti-social behavior unit in
England and Wales reported about 66,000 victims of anti-social just in a day.
Anti-social behavior is a topical issue that is of
great concern to government and parents as it tends to have ample effects on
the victims’ involved people around them and the country as well.
Angement (1997), in his work, reported that some of
the reasons why some students are anti-social is because they lack support from
friends/family members, little success story attached to their environment and
also because the learning environment is not conducive. Most students in the
secondary school tend to adapt this anti-social behavior a lot and this is a
threat to the success of our future generation.
Durojaiye (2003), contributed that anti- social
behavior culminates due to the poor level of socialization and poor trainings
from parents which they now use as an excuse for being anti-social.
Nwankwo (1994) made mention of some anti-social
behavior exhibited by both secondary and tertiary institutions students
to include cultism, drug abuse, anxiety, aggressiveness, examination
malpractice, etc which can put their future at great risk.
In addition, Unachukwu (1995), pointed that
anti-social behavior could be caused by even the teachers. When a teacher lacks
good humor, planning and the right sense of passing knowledge, it has the
tendency of discouraging the students and makes such students treat his studies
with levity.
Conclusively, due to how pertinent it is to look
into the problems caused by anti-social behavior, this study is meant to shade
more light on it and proffer solutions in other to avoid the many damages
caused by it.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE
PROBLEM
The high level of failure recorded by the
examination boards in Nigeria is attributed to anti-social behavior practiced
by students. Students who engage in anti-social behaviors are being distracted
from their academic work, as their attentions are divided. By extension,
half-baked graduate are being produced into the labor markets in Nigeria
thereby producing unemployable graduate (Ngozi O.I. 2012).
In addition, the level of insecurity in the country
poses a threat to harmonious living among the citizenry, as different cult
groups keep having clashes on almost a daily basis. Their activities go as far
as disrupting economic activities those in some parts of the country.
Another problem associated with anti-social behavior
by students is that it dirt the reputation of the education system of Nigeria.
This kills the confidence of Nigerian students from competing with students
from other countries.
1.3 OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
The
major objective of this study is to examine the recent trends in students’
anti-social behavior: Implications for the future of education in Nigeria
Other
specific objectives include:
a) To examine the consequences of
anti-social behavior on the educational performance of students.
b) To examine the relationship between
anti-social behavior and the economy of Nigeria.
c) To examine the possible means of
curbing anti-social behavior among students in schools.
d) To identify why some students exhibit
anti-social behavior.
1.4 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
The
following research questions are generated to guide this study:
a) What are the consequences of
anti-social behavior on the educational performance of students?
b) Is there a relationship between
anti-social behavior and the economy of Nigeria?
c) What are the possible means of
curbing anti-social behavior among students in schools?
d) What are the reasons behind
anti-social behavior exhibited by students?
1.5 RESEARCH
OF HYPOTHESIS
H0: There are no consequences
of anti-social behavior on the future of education in Nigeria.
H1: There are consequences of
anti-social behavior on the future of education in Nigeria.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
This study aims at educating, informing and
enlightening the public (parents/students), school administrators and the
government on the dangers of anti-social behavior among Nigerian students. It
is meant to shade more light on anti-social behavior practiced by some students
and the necessary measures parents, teachers and the government need to put in
place to curb anti-social behavior among students.
This study will be of immense benefit to other
researchers who intend to know more on this topic and can also be used by
non-researchers to build more on their work. This study contributes to
knowledge and could serve as a guide for other work or study.
1.7 SCOPE
OF THE STUDY/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This study is restricted to the recent trends in
students anti-social behavior: Implications for the future of education in
Nigeria.
Limitations of study
- 1.
Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher
in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in
the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
- 2.
Time constraint-
The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other
academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the
research work.
1.9 DEFINITION
OF TERMS
- RECENT: This means having happened, begun, or been done
not long ago; belonging to a past period comparatively close to the
present
- TRENDS: Is a general direction in which something is
developing or changing.
- ANTI-SOCIAL: This means contrary to the laws and customs of
society, in a way that causes annoyance and disapproval in others or not
sociable or wanting the company of others.
- IMPLICATION: This is the conclusion that can be drawn from
something although it is not explicitly stated.
References
Ademijimi A. Education Without Character. Punch
Online. 2014. Accessed on October 29, 2013. Available:
<http://www.punchng.com/opinion/ viewpoint/ education without-character/>
Nwankwo,
B.O., Nwoke, E.U., Chukwuocha, U.M., Obanny, A.O., Nwoga, K.S., NIwuagwu, U.O.,
& Okereke, C. (2010). Prevalence and predictors of anti social behavior: a
cross sectional survey of adolescents in secondary schools in owerri municipal,
south east Nigeria. Pakistan
Journal of Social Sciences, 7(2), 129-139. [16]
Nwankwo,
C.A. (1991). The behavioural patterns of the third year undergraeduate.
Unpublished M.Ed thesis Unizik. Awka.
Angenent,
H. (1997). Criminaliteit Van allochtone jongeren (Criminal behaviour of
immigrant youngsters). Barn. Intro.
Durojaiye,
M.O. (2003). Psychological Guidance of the school child.1stedition. Ibadani:
Evans Brothers.
Unachukwu,
G.C. (1995). Abnormal psychology. An unpublished lecture notes, Nnamdi Azikiwe
University, Awka.
Ngozi, O.I (2012). An
article on the Challenge of producing unemployable graduates: Vanguard
Newspaper July 21 2012.