INFLUENCE OF CULTISM ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN ILORIN METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

        This study investigated into the Influence of Cultism on Students’ Academic Performance in Ilorin Metropolis.

Two hundred respondents participated in the study. Four research hypotheses were generated for the study and t-test statistical method was used to analyse the data gathered with the Influence of Cultism on students’ academic performance questionnaire. The study showed that significant relationship existed between non-funding of University library and students performance.

Also significant relationship existed between non-qualified staff and students’ performance, significant relationship existed between inadequate relevant resources and students’ performance and significant relationship exist between staff motivation and students performance.

        It was therefore recommended that qualified library staff must be well equipped with relevant equipment, the library should be well equipped while there should be opportunity for future development of the library.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS                                                          PAGE

TITLE PAGE                                                             i      

CERTIFICATION                                                       ii     

DEDICATION                                                           iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS                                          iv    

ABSTRACT                                                               vi    

TABLE OF CONTENTS                                             vii

LIST OF TABLES                                                      ix

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study                                                 1

Statement of the Problem                                        6

Purpose of the Study                                                       7

General Questions                                                   8

Research Questions                                                 8

Research Hypotheses                                               9     

Significance of the Study                                                 9

Delimitation and Scope of the Study                               10   

Definition of Terms (Operational Definitions)           10   

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Concept of Secret Cult                                             12

Meaning of Cultism                                                 16

History of Cultism in Nigeria                                    20

Reasons Why People Join Cults                                       23

Existence of Cult Group on Campuses                    26

Effect of Cult Activities                                             30

Suggested Method of Curbing Cultism                     38

Summary of the Reviewed of Related Literature       43   

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHOD

Research Design                                                      44   

Population of the Study                                           44

Sample and Sampling Techniques                           45

Instrumentation                                                       45   

Validity of the Instrument                                        46   

Reliability of the Instrument                                    46

Administration of the Instrument                            47   

Method Data Analysis                                              47

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Results                                                                    48

Hypotheses Testing                                                  50

Discussion of Findings                                            54   

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary                                                                         57   

Conclusion                                                              58

Implications of the Study                                                 59

Recommendations                                                   59

Limitations of the Study                                          60

Suggestions for Further Study                                         60

REFERENCES                                                         61

APPENDIX                                                               63

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1:    Distribution of Respondents by Sex         48

Table 2:    Distribution of Respondents by Age         48

Table 3:    Distribution of Respondents by Religion 49

Table 4:    Distribution of Respondents by Parents Education                                                        49

Table 5:    t-test analysis comparing participants by sex            50   

Table 6:    t-test analysis comparing respondents by Age group                                                 51

Table 7:    t-test analysis comparing participants by religion           52

Table 8:    t-test analysis participants by parents’ Education             53

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

        Cultism is a secret organization formed by students while in the school, most especially in the tertiary institution.

        Molagun (2003) defined cultism as a religious group often based on immediate emotional experience rather than on a throughout ideology of most world religions Beth (1982). Advanced Oxford Dictionary defines cultism as a term coined out of the word cult, and that cultism is an extreme religious group that is not part of an established religions.

        Cultism has become one of the major problems confronting most of our tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It is not an over statement to say that Nigeria’s educational system is on the verge of collapse if nothing is done by the government, school authorities, students and the society in general to stop cultism in our tertiary institutions.

        Cultism have been known to have caused many havocs in our tertiary institutions as members engage themselves in brutal killing of other fellow students, harassing of lecturers, raping, destruction of school properties and causing violence in the school campuses thus, making the school environment unconducive for learning.

        The effects of secret cults in schools are numerous. Such cult had newer dimension to the educational problems we already have. The rate at which cults are causing disruptions in the smooth running of various institutions of learning is assuming an alarming proportion. For example, in the wake of the 90’s, there has been a great rise in the dastardly activities of the 90’s, there has been a great rise in the dastardly activities of the cults in as recorded on the pages of various national dailies. To help us appreciate the negative effects of cults in our institutions, we examine a well documented newspaper report and other eye witness accounts as recorded in Olaoye (1996), five occult members were shot dead by members of rival secret cult at the university of Benin, one was shot dead while thirty got drowned in an attempt to escape arrest at the University of Calabar. More so, four were shot dead at the University of Ibadan. A science laboratory was set ablaze by cult members at University of Jos. About twelve cult students among whom were two female students from tertiary institutions in Kwara State were in police custody for being in possession of dangerous weapons. One was murdered while another was shot at the Federal Polytechnic Offa. Occult members struck at the Yaba College of Technology leaving four dead in 1994, nine students of Baptist High School Abeokuta, were caught performing initiation rites for members of their cult in the midnight. A similar incident was reported at a secondary school in Abia State where a principal caught thirteen students with guns. Moreover, nine students of Federal Government College, Indoani in Ondo State were expelled for belonging to secret cults. Occults members also struck at the College of Education in Ila-Orangun leading to destructions of properties. Bulus, (2003). The moral decadence in our tertiary institutions can be traced to the family, which is an institution that permits safe guarding of the child during the period of biological immaturity and also provide for the child’s primary socialization and initial education. Parenthood is rapidly becoming a highly self conscious vocation Mitchell, (1996) and it is in the realm of inter-personal relationships and social interactions that the self conscious operates.   

        Musgrave (1996) has emphasized that the claims which schools make concerning their impact upon children characters are probably both extravagant and unfounded that they are in general of negligible influence. The real prime and lasting influence is in home and if there is a deprivation here (i.e. materially, mentally or spiritually there will be some form of deprivation in the personality of the child Bowlby (1995) described that observation of several deprived children demonstrated that their conscience and potentialities were not developed. The family moulds the personality of a child throughout his school life. The question now arises, what are the factors responsible for the causes of cultism in our tertiary institutions and how has cultism influence the students in our tertiary institutions?

        People differ in their opinions some blame the cause on the parents while some blame the cause on school authorities while others are of the views that the students themselves and even the government are not helping matters as regards the issue of cultism in our tertiary institutions.

        Our assumption in this study therefore are many factors, on why students join cultism such as students socio-economics background, search for self-image or self-esteem and student desire to belong. It is also assumed that inferiority complex on the part of the students has a lot to do with cultism in tertiary institutions. It is assumed also that the influence of home environment, peer group pressures and many other factors are all contributory factors that cause cultism in our tertiary institutions, now that the research is out to find out the influence of cultism on students academic performance in Ilorin Metropolis. It is assumed that at the end, the result of this study will bring awareness not only to the school authorities and the parent but to the population at large, thereby giving enlightenment on how influence of cultism on students’ academic performance in Ilorin Metropolis can be curbed in our tertiary institution. 

Statement of the Problem