The Effect of Sexual Relationships Among Secondary School Students on Their Academic Performance
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objective of the study is to find out the effect of sexual relationship among secondary school students in Oyo state. The following specified objectives will guide the study:
- To identify the kinds of premarital sexual relationship among the students
- To examine the causes of premarital sexual relationship among the students
- To examine the effects of premarital sexual relationship on the academic performance of the students.
- To identify the possible means of curbing this menace among the students so as to enhance and improve their academic development and performance in school
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
This chapter will examine related literature on correlates of adolescent sexual behaviour in Bassa Education Zone. It‘s application to the topic under study (i.e. correlate of adolescent sexual behaviour). As a matter of fact adolescent both boys and girls originally might not be exposed to there social vices enumerated in the propose of study periphery as soon as they got to school and mixed-up with peer group as a result of peer pressure might lured them to antisocial vices that may ridicule their lives through teenage pregnancy, unprotected sex and even death as the case may be.
Conceptual Framework
Concept of Sexuality
Ikpe (2004), considered sexuality as the very essence of one‘s humanity including one‘s self- image, being male or female, physical looks and reproductive capacity in other words the author conceived sexuality as a natural part of life. It is about the way we are made, how we feel about ourselves, what roles we play in the society and how we procreate‖. Although the concept of sexuality can be dated back to our ancestors, we laid much emphasis population and health concerns have led to the re- thinking and re-identification of the relationship between sexuality and human activity and behaviour.
Sexuality, according to definition by the World Health Organization (WHO), 2003 is a central aspect of being human through out life and encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality inexperienced and expressed in thoughts fantasies, desires, belief, attitude, values behaviours practices, roles and relationships. Sexuality is often broadly defined as a social construction of biological drive which often with issues such as whom one has sex with in what ways, sex.
Concept of Sexual Behavior
The Nigerian society today has to grapple with many behavioural problems of its youth. Such problems include truancy, disobedience, drug offences, assault, insult, stealing, violent demonstrations, vandalism, examination malpractices, robbery, and secret cult activities. Apart from these widely publicized behavioural problems, heterosexual activities are also listed among types of behavioural problems prevalent in Nigerian secondary schools. These are variously named in the literature as sex abuse, sex offences, sexual misconduct, sexual immorality, sexual promiscuity, and sexual maladjustment. It is observed that in terms of behavioural problems, sex abuse appeared to be one of the most serious offences committed by children and adolescents. The age of initial sexual experience and involvement thus becomes younger than fifteen years as found by Esen in (1974). observed that today‘s situation shows a sharp contrast to the traditional Nigerian societal context in which girls avoided pre-marital sexual experiences for fear of social punishments usually meted out to girls who lost their virginity before marriage. Observers blame this state of affairs on parents. Basically, the task of educating children, especially adolescents, about sex is seen as the responsibility of parents. The traditional Nigerian society, however, is quite conservative on matters of sex. Consequently, parent-child discussion on sexual matters is beclouded by parental inhibitions and inter-generational tensions. Most Nigerian parents shy away from such discussions because it is generally believed that it will make the adolescent attempt to experiment on what they have been told. Observed were made that in most African homes, parents are not fully equipped to answer questions on sexual matters usefully. Even those who try to pass- on faulty information to their children. The whole subject thus becomes surrounded by secrecy and the children now become too embarrassed to discuss these matters with their parents. Three
decades after, the situation is hardly different as studies have shown that children rarely receive information on sexual matters from their parents. This situation leaves the adolescents curious and ill-prepared to contend with their blossoming interest in sexuality and sex and leads them to seek information from their peers.
Societal acceptance or rejection of any private behavior, including contraception, is likely to affect that behavior profoundly.), some instructional books and women’s magazines provide contradictory messages regarding condom use. Specifically, they portray the condom either as a symbol of pleasure and of a life associated with responsible sexual intercourse, or as a symbol of promiscuity and disease.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter covers the description and discussion on the various techniques and procedures used in the study to collect and analyze the data as it is deemed appropriate
Research Design
For this study, the survey research design was adopted. The choice of the design was informed by the objectives of the study as outlined in chapter one. This research design provides a quickly efficient and accurate means of assessing information about a population of interest. It intends to study the effect of sexual relationships among secondary school students on their academic performance. The study will be conducted in Abuja metropolis.
Population of the Study
The population for this study were students in Alaafin high school and Alaafin grammar school, Agunpopo, in Atiba local government area of Oyo state. A total of 134 respondents were selected from the population figure out of which the sample size was determined. The reason for choosing Abuja metropolis is because of its proximity to the researcher.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
Introduction
This chapter deals with the presentation and analysis of the result obtained from questionnaires. The data gathered were presented according to the order in which they were arranged in the research questions and simple percentage were used to analyze the demographic information of the respondents while the chi square test was adopted to test the research hypothesis.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Discussion of Findings
The finding of the study revealed that premarital sexual relationship had a significant influence on students’ academic performance in the study area. This result supported the finding of Mlyakabo and Timothy, (2014) who found that most sexually active student perform poorly in their studies and faced several problems which compromised their academic lives.
Rector and Johnson, (2005) Mlyakabo, (2013) and Timothy (2010) are consistent with findings of this study, when they opined that, most sexually active students perform poorly in their studies and faced several problems, which compromised their academic lives. It is taken that poor academic performance is an indication of negative effect of students’ sexual relationship to academic wellbeing. The logic is that, students who are sexually active may become preoccupied with their sexual activity and have diminished importance academic goals. They further noted that psychological disturbance is also associated with students’ sexual relationship which are resulting from handling student’s sexual relationship in schools. It is the fact that, students’ sexual relationship is inherently short-term and unstable, which means when it collapses, the result is likely to be emotional turmoil and depression. And if students are psychologically disturbed or depressed, these are likely to have negative consequences on academic prospects culminating to undermined academic performance or total loss of education opportunity. For example, in Nigeria, pregnancy leads to total expulsion from schools. Rustications and other punishments or dropping out of schools have direct impact to students’ academic life.
Furthermore, Quatman, Sampson, Robinson and Watson, (2001) and Timothy, (2010) noted that students who are dating exhibit consistently and significantly lower levels of academic motivation. They further affirmed that students who abstain from sex during high school studies are substantially less likely to be expelled from school, less likely, to drop out of high school and more likely to attend and graduate from college.
Also, Schvaneveldt, et al, (2001) argued that, when greater energy and interest are invested in sexual activity; the drive for academic performance is likely to diminish and that early initiation of sexual intercourse correlates with poor academic performance.
Conclusion
The study concluded that premarital sexual relationship influence students’ academic performance in secondary school in Alaafin high school and Alaafin grammar school, Agunpopo, in Atiba local government area of Oyo state. And that student is likely to drop out of school due to pregnancy and therefore have their education truncated.
Recommendations
Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations were made.
- That sexual and reproductive health education should be taught in secondary schools as relevant and appropriate sexual and reproductive health information is necessary for secondary school students physical and intellectual health.
- That teachers, parents, and community at large have to effectively play their role to bringing up the children to become responsible individuals. Sexual and reproductive health education is necessary in this context, which should be channeled from different angles of human interactional opportunities; home, school, play grounds, churches and mosques.
- That the government should support diligently and harmoniously all the initiative to help young generation in the countries especially students.
- That counselling and guidance systems in secondary schools should be made strongly enough to carry activities that will help learners or students get the best out of their school lives. Students sometimes get into severe problems because they lack support and help network. They lack services where to seek help when they are stressed, depressed, or confused in making decisions. The current Nigerian education system gives the discipline masters positions to provide counselling and guidance. This limits students’ opportunities to effectively use the help system, as they fear to be considered undisciplined if they talk about involved in sexual relationship.
- Lastly, sexuality education curriculum should be implemented in schools as a matter of urgency. The levels, to which it be decided according to levels of the students and each level should have its contents that inform of the basics about sex and sexuality matters. Demystifying sex and sexuality should be the foremost advocated so that the gaps that are held and which hinders discussions of sexual matters between adolescents and adults can be bridged. Provision of adequate and age relevant information about sex and sexuality to adolescents should be prioritized. Peer education in schools should also be initiated and where already exist be strengthened to help students share experiences and educate themselves on different matters including sex and sexuality. The peer groups formed in schools should have specific aims and goals to achieve at different times of their operation. Peer groups should be visited by specialists in different walks of life to share experiences with them, and educate group members for their betterment.
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