Full Project – INFLUENCE OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOURS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS AS EXPRESSED BY SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

Around the world, human beings always strive to reduce indiscipline and improve peoples conformity to the rules and regulations of the society, violation of rules still occur. School environment is one part of the society that is not independent of what happens in the larger society (Daramola, 2004). It is a known fact that series of crimes witnessed in the larger society today manifest themselves in the school environment. In Nigeria for example, there are reports of students engaging in examination malpractices, raping of fellow students, truancy and organized students destructive behaviours like riot, arson and theft (Adobayero, 2004). However, many of these students crimes cannot be precisely classified as crime but rather, they are technically referred to as delinquency. Delinquency refers to the violation of law by a juvenile. It includes those acts which do not conform to societal norms and which are committed mostly by adolescents. The term juvenile acts has also come to include anything that youngsters do that goes against the norms of the society, regardless of whether the action is legal or illegal (Deborah, 2003).

The subject of delinquency is one in which most members of the general public are interested. One needs not to search far for indications that in literature, authorities have a number of firm opinions about delinquency, including beliefs about its causes and views about its consequences. Most of these popular attitudes and beliefs are straight forward instances of folk wisdom. They imply that the causes of delinquency are easily discernable to any reasonable man and that delinquency can be curbed by one panacea or another. Like a good deal of folk wisdom, these opinion about delinquency are in most instances varied and can assist in furthering research efforts like the one that will be carried out in this study. Polk and Scalifer, (2009), argue that, popular belief and comments in the electronic and print media on youthful crime have been increasing alarmingly. West (2010) argue further that, more youngsters are being received into social welfare homes and detention centre as a result of their involvement in juvenile crime.

Gibbons (2009) postulates that juvenile delinquents constitute a social problem about which something must be done. According to him, these children must be converted into normal non-delinquent individuals by some rehabilitation techniques. Though the total number of delinquents is far greater than it was revealed in court statistical and police records but it is inadequate to discuss statistical facts without finding solutions to what the statistics pointed to.

Gibbons (2009) observed that there is an abundance of evidence of misbehaviour among youths. The situation therefore, is that a large number of youth at all social levels and in all kinds of communities engage in acts of misconduct and law breaking which may remain hidden or undetected. Also, Power and Mossis (2002) found an even higher prevalence of juvenile delinquency in “their” study. This is the reason why Wolfgang (2004) Figho, and Selhin (2007) estimated that among males born in Philadelphia in 2005 a half would have an offence record by the age 35.

In another survey, Dentscher (2001) indicates that American’s rate juvenile delinquency as the most serious moral problem, out of about eleven issues tabled for consideration. This is to tell us that delinquent rampant is becoming alarming rate and that people are taking note of its negative impact in the society. It is against this background knowledge that the researcher intends to survey the influence of delinquent behavior on academic performance among secondary school students in Ilorin. Delinquent acts according to Gibbons (2000) is a common act in which case nearly all youngsters engage in at least some delinquent acts during their juvenile career. While Namadi and Fage (2009) argue that delinquents have characteristics that may be sociological or economic which distinguishes them from the rest of us. They pointed out that there is the need to comprehend the “how” and “why” of young people’s behaviour before much can be said about delinquency i.e. “how” involves focusing upon the earlier sequence which has resulted in the current pattern of behaviour. Such knowledge will help reduce occurrences of undesirable behaviour among children and adolescents, it will also help to develop more adaptive behaviour that is preventive rather than cure.

Sociologists have come to agree that delinquent acts constitute a social problem about which something must be done. West (2002) agrees in one way or the other that delinquent acts has been on increase all over the world. Dada (2009) observes that the world today is where delinquency is assuming an unprecedented and alarming increase, and the material challenges of life has forced many parent to shelf their responsibilities to their offspring’s. Money and position have relegated the family to a secondary concern with the resultant behavioural chaos.

Nearly every language has a word or phrase which is always negative to describe and stereotype teenagers and adolescents who violate the law of the land. In Nigeria, for example, such words or phrases like “Janduku Omo” (Yoruba), “Dan-hiska” (Hausa) and “Nwata na-eme Isike” (Ibo) are just few of the tribal reference that are often made to youngsters whose actions and behaviours are at variance level with the norms of the society. Gibbsons (2009) pointed out that, although the United State has the highest delinquency rates of the nations of the world, Juvenile misconduct has increased markedly in many other nations since World War II. He argues further that, large number of youth engage in acts which technically qualify as delinquents. The total number of delinquents in the nation in his view is far greater than that revealed in court statistics, police records and social brothel departments. There is an abundance of evidence from studies of “hidden” mis-behaviour in which youth admit behaviour ranging over the entire gamut of delinquent acts.

On the alarming rate of delinquent acts in Nigerian schools, Fabunmi (2003) claimed that nobody in the Nigeria society today even in the world at large who can deny the fact that the age of student radicalism or activism has arrived. This then is the reason why Nwana (2007) opined that many Nigerian’s laymen and educationists cry out against an alleged fall in level of discipline. The impression according to him is that the students of today commit more offences than their contemporaries and that the schools of today is clearly a less disciplined community than the schools of the past. Consequently this delinquent acts is a serious problem that disturb the mind of the entire people of the society.

In Nigeria, many concerned citizens have written on the subject of discourse which has eaten very deep into the fabric of our Nation in print and electronic media. Principals, Ministry of Education and successive Governments in seminars and workshops have noted this and evolved various schemes aimed at correcting deviant acts in Nigeria and in the institutions throughout the country.

In 1984 and 1985, the Buhari, Idiagbon regime launched the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) in four phases to respond to different types of deviant behaviours such as:

Queuing culture
Work to rule ethics
Corruption and economic shortage
Environmental sanitation

To further emphasize the efforts of successive governments at curbing deviant acts in Nigeria; the Abacha regime in 17^th Nov. 1993/ 8^th June 1998 launched National Orientation Agency (NOA) and War Against Indiscipline and Corruption (WAIC) with these components:

Corruption and economic crimes.
Queuing culture for inculcation of patience and orderliness.
Social justice and the rule of law.
Work ethics
Environmental sanitation.

The above justified the reasons why Nigeria has given a great deal of attention in recent years to the problem of juvenile delinquency. For example, Dada (2009), noted that the Federal Government has initiated many programmes designed for the promotion of the overall development of Nigerian youth, programme like the youth award scheme, youth exchange programme where youth from one state will go to another state for their Youth Day Celebrations to learn about the culture and people of such a state. Other programmes include the National Children and Youth Day Celebration and Youth Holiday camp just to mention but a few examples. Their establishments were borne out of the realization that the youths need to be encouraged to develop expectations which are in consonance with the realities they will eventually have to face in future. The Federal Government’s concern over the problem of delinquency among Nigerian youths promoted her setting up a committee which had the objective of reducing indiscipline among the youths in 1990 (Nigeria Journal of Sociology). The National Advisory Committee for Social development came out with a lot of far reaching strategies for counseling and corrections. Some of which include the need to de-emphasize the use of the criminal justice system to the cases relating to young offenders and the need to establish community/neighborhood young persons correctional committee and strengthen indigenous institutions for correctional purposes.

The consequences of deviant acts among secondary school students cannot be overemphasized as it ranges from personal to societal which is often manifested in destructive act and damage of properties. Akinboye (2007) believes that behavioural problem of young stars are highly refractory in the sense that once young stars start committing a crime, it may be very difficult to change such difficult behaviour. The Punch News Paper and NTA network news recently reported the deviant act of Government secondary school students, Ilorin on 16^th June, 2008 which led to the destruction of properties worth millions of naira which include burning of principals office, 120 laptops, vital documents and the school buses. Dada (2001), argue that the problems emanating from deviant acts and juvenile delinquency do not affect only the juvenile themselves but other innocent people as well.

Statement of the Problem

Delinquent Behaviour has been an issue that parents, guidance and teachers are warned about. Even the government of every society is trying every way to tackle the problem. We have now home to a point in time to know that every agent of socialization has a pat to play. That is why many researchers carryout research on the domestic violence earlier researchers such as:

Adeleke (2005) worked on factor contributing to delinquent behaviour, the findings showed that secondary school students are gradually taking after students of higher institutions in the pattern of crime they get involved in. What Adeleke means is that some crimes like riot, arson, and rape that were common in higher institutions are now common among secondary school students. In confirmation of this for example, Olugbile (2006) reported that six (6) secondary school students in Lagos State were caught rapping an 18 years SS III female student within the school premises.

Many authors like Conlin (2007) and Bishop (2000) on effect of juvenile delinquency on society, explain that juvenile delinquency is often referred to acts or offences of people who violate the law but are no legally adults and thereby cannot be tried in conventional court. Most of the crime committed by this category of people are not clearly different from crimes committed by their adults (Conlin 2007). For example, as the adult kill, steal, rape, destroy properties, so the youths also kill, steal, rape, destroy properties and express a grossly disobedience of the state laws.

This increase is becoming source of worry to the society as the crimes manifest in school environment where students are expected to learn the good virtue that can aid their countries development.

Afolayan (2006) worked on parents management of delinquency, she reported that parents over indulge their children and that some are too busy to care for their children. As a result of this those types of children are difficult to control when they get to school this lead them to delinquent behaviour.

Abigail (2006) carried out research work on juvenile delinquency among secondary school student, which stated frustration as possible causes failure in academic performance this can lead to deviance among secondary school student.

To end this, the above researchers, findings should that moral training will prevent delinquent act among school children This unavailability of known researches in this area of study creates research gap, part of which this study wants to fill. Thus, this study is aimed at investigating the particular delinquent acts that are prevalent in secondary schools within the metropolis and to find out whether there are even means through which the acts are planned to be checked or controlled in public and private secondary schools.

Research Questions

What are the influence of delinquent behaviour on academic performance of student in Secondary School in Ilorin Metropolis.
Is there any significant difference in the influence of delinquent behaviour on academic performance of Secondary School Student in Ilorin Metropolis on the bases of gender difference?
Is there any significant difference in the influence of delinquent behaviours on academic performance of Secondary School Student in Ilorin on the bases of school types?
Is there any significant difference in the influence of delinquent behaviours on academic performance of Student in Secondary School in Ilorin on the basis of age difference?
Is there any significant difference in the influence of delinquent behaviours on academic by performance of Student in Secondary School in Ilorin Metropolis on the bases of religion differences?

Research Hypotheses

The following Hypotheses are to be tested in the study.

There is no significant difference in the influence of delin quent behaviours on academic performance of Secondary School Student in Ilorin Metropolis on the bases of Gender.
There is no significant difference in the influence of delinquent behaviours on academic performance of student as expressed by secondary school teachers in Ilorin on the bases of level of Age.
There is no significant difference in the influence of delinquent behaviours on academic performance of students as expressed by secondary school teachers in Ilorin on the bases on the religion.
There is no significant difference in the influence of delinquent behaviours on academic performance of students as expressed by secondary school teacher in Ilorin bases on school types.

Purpose of the Study

The general purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of delinquent behaviours on academic performance of students as expressed by secondary school teachers in Ilorin Metropolis.

The study will also conclude its investigation by verifying me influence of delinquent behavior on academic performance base on variable such as Age, Gender, Religion and School Types.

Significance of the Study

This study investigates of delinquent behaviour on academic performance of secondary school students in Ilorin metropolis. The findings of this study would assist the following people: researchers, parents, counsellor, teachers, social workers, mass media workers, students etc. It will help these people to understand the factors contributing to delinquency behaviours. In the following ways:

The result of the study can be used by the school teachers to identify student with delinquent behaviour and school guidance counsellors to have a better focus and solve the problems of delinquent behaviour in secondary school student.

This project work will help parents to have better understanding the factors contributing to the delinquency behaviour of their children’s. Heredity, parental educational background also has its part to play in delinquent acts. Moral training they believe will prevent delinquent behaviour. The different characteristic of delinquency were not left untouched.

Some of the causes of juvenile delinquency or deviant behaviours will be exposed to the mass median and to the society at large. The forms of delinquency ranged from socialized to un-socialized to impulsive. The way delinquent acts affect the society, the individual and the academic performance of a student’s was also discussed and explained in the research work.

The findings of this study would help to offer suggestions to secondary school students on how to behave in the society. The findings of the study would also guide students on how to educate each other on proper behaviour in secondary school. Solution to the problem of delinquent behaviour on academic performance of secondary school students can also students can also be found in the recommendation of this study.

It will also help the future researchers to commence researchers stopped. It is also aimed at revealing hidden problems in the study.

Scope of the Study

This study is to investigate the influence of delinquent behaviours on academic performance of students in secondary school in Ilorin metropolis. The study will be limited to Ilorin metropolis. While respondent will be randomly sample for the study.

Operational Definition of Terms

For the purpose of clarity and avoidance of misunderstanding, the following are some terms and their operational definitions as they are used in this study.

Influence: Power to affect the outcome or the result obtained from a particular causes. In this study the cause is the juvenile delinquency, whereas the effect is the influence of this behavior on the academic performance of secondary school students.

Delinquent: The act of failing in duty, lacking in moral and social sense, that is committed by persons between age 11-18 years.

Delinquent Behaviour: Usually of young people in bad or illegal act (juvenile delinquent) especially of young people between the age of 11 – 19 years of their behaviour, falling in duty, lacking in moral and social sense.

Academic Performance: Negative response of the students toward their academic work in the school that is the score obtain by the student in test and examination.

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