The Effect of Deviant Behaviour on Academic Performance Among Secondary School Students
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are;
- To investigate whether parents in some ways, either knowing or unknowingly contribute to the deviant behaviour of students in secondary school.
- To ascertain whether deviant behaviour causes students’ drop out in school
- To ascertain whether the role of parents, school, society and environment in which they live play or control deviant behaviour in secondary schools
- To ascertain whether deviant behaviour affect the academic performance of students in secondary schools
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
Deviant behaviour has been described as a behaviour that is at variance with acceptable norms of a school (Peretomode, 2001). It is a negation of school rules and regulations, norms and values of a group or an institution. Any conduct or act that violates the laws or acceptable standards of a society or group is described as deviance. Deviant behaviour is an act or conduct that does not conform with established rules of a society or group (Bolu-steve, 2017; Idris, 2016). What is considered deviant behaviour varies among different societies. Thus a behaviour maybe acceptable by a society but considered deviance by another society. In addition, Igbinovia (1997) maintained that deviance among students could be a way of drawing attention of injustice, and to expose a system’s defects so that they can be fine tuned. As expressed by Suleiman (2011), three elements make a behaviour to be described as deviance. These elements are: behaviour that impede an individuals’ effective functioning in the society, behaviours that hinders an individual meeting his/her personal needs and behaviour that interferes negatively with the wellbeing of other members of the society. Researchers are concerned about increasing cases of indiscipline among secondary schools. Ali, Dada, Isiaka, & Salmon. (2014) found that students’ misconduct was high in Lagos state secondary schools. Students’ poor performance in external examinations was attributed to factors such as lack of facilities, indiscipline and administrative malfeasance among principals (Mbaabu & Orodho, 2014). Cheng, (2012) attributed deviant behaviour of students to studentteacher relationship and family social economic status. According to Yaman & Uygumada, (2009), teachers adopt passive learning strategies when the classroom is overcrowded, this breeding ground for deviant behaviour. This situation slows down learning progress (Earthman, 2012). Discipline in school is the concern of education stakeholders worldwide. In the United States of America 40 % of teachers have left the teaching profession due to disruptive behaviour problems (Mtsweni, 2008). He maintained that many teachers in American schools have sought transfer to schools with less behaviour problems, thus making some schools to be left in the hands of unskilled and novice teachers. Smith and Smith (2016) explained that unruly behaviour of high school students and rampant cases of violence have led to exodus of urban school teachers to rural schools.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to the effect of deviant behavior on academic performance among secondary school students.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the effect of deviant behavior on academic performance among secondary school students
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of deviant behavior on academic performance among secondary school students
Summary
This study was on the effect of deviant behavior on academic performance among secondary school students. Four objectives were raised which included; To investigate whether parents in some ways, either knowing or unknowingly contribute to the deviant behaviour of students in secondary school, to ascertain whether deviant behaviour causes students’ drop out in school, to ascertain whether the role of parents, school, society and environment in which they live play or control deviant behaviour in secondary schools and to ascertain whether deviant behaviour affect the academic performance of students in secondary schools. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 staff from different secondary schools in Awka, Anambra state was selected randomly. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up principals, vice principals administration, senior staff and junior staff was used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies.
Conclusion
Deviant behaviour is a behaviour or action of individual or groups that are not in accordance. In schools deviant behaviour of students are understood relation to body of existing schools rules and regulations. Peer pressure and school related factors have great consequences on the academic wellbeing of students. It is imperative for government, parents and schools to put adequate measures in place to curb the trends of deviant acts in our schools because of its increasing rate in the educational system.
Recommendation
The following recommendations are made based on the nature of deviant behaviour.
- The issue of civic and moral education should be taken more seriously in all levels of our education and moral re-orientation should be mostly emphasized.
- Since most of the causes of deviant acts are traceable to schools, home, peer influence etc there is need for parents, and school administrators to work jointly to keep students behaviour under effective control.
- Parents and guardians should always monitor the activities of their children at all time with the aim of curbing the negative behaviour.
- Government should live up to expectation of people by ensuring absolute supervision and creating social amenities.
- Professional counsellors should take their responsibilities serious.
- Government should establish their professionalism in ameliorating this wavering disease.
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