IMPACT OF INSECURITY ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE NORTH-CENTRAL GEO-POLITICAL ZONE OF NIGERIA

Okpanachi, S. Stephen, Ph.D.

E-mail:- stevokpanachi56@gmail.com,

Phone number: +234 8033612096

Department of Educational Foundation

Federal College of Education, Okene

Kogi State, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study was to investigate the impact of security challenges on the academic performance of secondary school students in the North-Central Geo-political zone of Nigeria. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The research area was the North-Central geo-political zone of Nigeria which includes Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau States and the Federal Territory Abuja. A purposeful random sample technique was used to sample Kogi, Nasarrawa, Niger States and Abuja. Two hundred each was randomly sampled to select parents, teacher and students for the study making a total of six hundred (600). The main instrument used in this study was a questionnaire titled Security Challenges on Secondary School Questionnaire (SCSSQ). Face and content validation of the instrument was carried out to ensure that instrument had the accuracy for study under consideration.  Test-re-test technique was used to determine the level of reliability of the instrument. The reliability co-efficient obtained was 0.75 and this was high enough to justify the use of the instrument. The statistical techniques adopted for this study was the mean. The finding of the study revealed that suitable location of school is important for the security of students. It equally revealed that perimeter fencing with good gate and security personnel are of necessity. It was revealed too that cooperation between parents, teachers and the community at large are part of criteria in maintaining security in school for better academic performance. The study among others recommended that school should be located closely to the users as to avert security attack on students.

Keywords: Security challenges, Location Fencing, Academic Performance and PTA.