ABSTRACT
The research work aimed at examining the affectation of cult activities on the academic performance of secondary school students in mission schools. The research was carried out in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau state where five missions owned secondary schools were randomly selected for the study. From the sample schools, the researcher selected two hundred students from SS One– SS Two, five principles and eighty teachers as the sample units for the study. Research questions and hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. To answer the research questions and hypothesis, the researcher elicited information from the two hundred students, five principles and eighty teachers using a five scale likert structured questionnaire type. The data collected were analyzed using the criteria mean and response mean scores statistical technique and the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using chi-square. The findings of study revealed the molestation, killing, destruction of properties, drug use, raping and maiming, are the most prevalent activities of cult members in mission secondary schools. The findings of the study also revealed peer pressure as the major causes of students’ involvement in cult practices. The study showed that cult activities have negative influence on the academic performance of senior secondary students in mission schools. Thus, it was revealed that students who are members of cult groups have no regard for academic activities such as attending classes, reading and doing assignment. Secondly, that most cult members rely only on all forms of examination mal-practices to pass their academic tests and examination and thirdly, the study showed that students who involved themselves in cult practices perform poorly at every school examination. The research also revealed that effective teaching and learning of CRK and Civic Education, adequate and proper guidance and counseling services, adequate and regular orientations and public speeches on cultism are ways of sensitizing students on the affectations of cult activities on their academic performance. Finally, the study revealed that regular sanitization of students on the affectation of cultism, creation of awareness about cultism, setting up special committee in schools to deal with cultism, punishment such as 21 years imprisonment or out right expulsion of students found to be cult members as well as intensive teaching and learning of religious, civic and moral education and establishment of effective counseling unit in schools are ways by which cult practices can be curbed in schools. Based on the findings, recommendations were made; that perpetrator of cult activities in schools should be serious prosecuted and punished, they should be expelled from school or convicted of 21 years imprisonment, that awareness should be created about the affectations of cult activities and that students should be regularly and adequately sensitized about the dangers associated with cult practices in schools. Finally, that counseling services should be made available in our secondary schools more than ever.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Of all the factors militating against smooth academic calendar, secret cult activities appear to be the most intractable today. Ritualistic tendencies, display of acts of terrorism, and the wanton destruction of life and property perpetrated by members of secret cults have become grave social concern in and outside the school system. The situation is rapidly assuming alarming and wilder proportion.
The reckless use of offensive weapons including arms and ammunition by cult members or groups portends a grave danger for the growth of education in our country. Ojo, (1995) paints a gloomier picture of the situation when he writes that “students keep dying, getting maimed and disfigured; they keep being sexually harassed by occult confraternities. Yet the school authorities are doing nothing to confront the evil”. (p.47)
Lar (2005) in the same vain, points that the activities of cult members have led to so much loss of life and property especially in our institutions of learning; Students kill and injure themselves during intra and inter cult clashes on revenge missions valuables like cars and houses are burnt down electronics, provisions in shops among others are looted.
Cult activities have continued to thrive in Nigeria due to enormous impression of securing invincibility of cult members. A major factor working in favour of cult groups is mass ignorance on the part of students especially the new students who are hoodwinked and deceived to join one secret cult or the other. Secret cult societies could be traced down to the Egyptians. According ancient Egyptian anthropology, cultism is the state or a phenomenon where persons are bound together with a common belief or cause usually through some ritual.
The word ‘cult’ means a system of religious worship especially one that is expressed in rituals. From this definition cults now popularly known as confraternities, have assumed monstrous features in our institutions of learning. To this end our various institutions, which were hitherto models for intellectual quest and social upliftment have become citadels of violence and terrorism. The pertinent question that one may ask is; are the phenomenons of cultism and cult activities just entering our institutions of leaning? The answer is simply no; this is because international figures have been known to be members of the pirates’ confraternity in their college days. This is further confirmed when there were violent clashes between the Eiye confraternity and Buccaueers at the University of Ibadan in (1989) some notable professors and doctors at the institution were found to be patrons and bankers of these cults.
The proliferation of cult group such as Vikings, the black axe, the morphine, the buccaneers, the pirates, the black arrow to mention but a few have become familiar features in our secondary schools today even in Mission owned Secondary schools. According Olaoye, (1999) in 1994, nine students of Baptist High School, Abeokuta were caught performing initiation rite for members of their cult in the midnight. A similar incident was reported in Abia state, where the principal of Methodist College Uzoakoli caught thirteen students with guns in protestation of the expulsion of two students belonging to their cult over the allegation of raping female students in the school. Reports from various institutions as posited by Babatunde (2010) have shown that most secondary schools in Nigeria have become arenas for cult activities.
All the activities and philosophy of secret cults manifest perpetration of acts of violence. Their operations are conducted in secrecy and are carried out during nocturnal initiations and ceremonies. Drug use, extortion, rape, maiming, stealing, arson, examination malpractices and murder are some of the aftermaths of their secret activities. The philosophy of secret cults according to Osagie, (2004) is demonstrated by their slogans and names, for instance the pirates say: “Blood for blood” “measure for measure” “No friend no foe”.
Black Axe: “The axe never falls without coming up with blood stain: In our domain “Mistake hath no place and we don’t believe in coincidence”. cobrab: say “The bleeder must be bled in full measure”.
The philosophy and composition of secret cults suggests organized criminality. It is worth pondering a number of important questions. What types of decent and well integrated students and academic environment would our secondary schools have if the philosophy of these secret cults was positive? Can we still have a fully relevant education with the daily increase in cult activities? What legacies is the present generation of our institutions of learning leaving for future generations? Has cultism contributed anything positive to its members, their respective families, school environment and society at large? These questions require thoughtful answers from cult members, sponsors and sympathizers; and hence the statement of the problem of this research.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
It is no longer news that one of the evolving problems in our mission schools today is the hydra headed issue of cultism. Cult activities and practices are becoming common amongst secondary school students even in mission owned secondary schools where students are expected to attain high moral values and academic excellence. There is no doubt that many mission secondary school students are making their ways into secret cults but the question is why are students in mission schools joining secret cults and how do cult activities influence their academic performance?
Cultism runs counter to the principles and practices of Nigerian education and the affect of cult activities are felt at the individual, family, societal, school, national and international levels.
The individual cultist loses his self identify to enable him wear the group identify. He then loses his ability to think and act independently. His values are distorted and he is soon looked upon by the society as a criminal. His academic standard makes no meaning to him.