EXPLORING THE NEXUS: SOCIAL CHALLENGES, ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT IN SECONDARY EDUCATION

Authors: Dr. Adetutu Adedoyin Kehinde-Awoyele & Adeniyi Wasiu Adeowu

ABSTRACT

Secondary education, a pivotal phase in an individual’s development, is not only characterized by academic rigor but also marked by a myriad of social challenges that significantly impact students learning outcomes and moral development. These challenges are not isolated incidents but threads intricately woven into the social dynamics of secondary education. It is on this assumption, that this paper examines the interconnected nature of social challenges, academic performance, and moral development in the context of secondary education and seeks to provide valuable insights into the multifaceted landscape of secondary education, offering a nuanced understanding of how these factors intersect and influence one another. It delves into the detrimental effects of these challenges on students’ academic performance, highlighting the links between social difficulties and decreased motivation, concentration, and engagement in educational activities. The concept of moral development and its role in navigating social challenges and academic performance were critically discussed. The role of educators, parents, and policymakers in nurturing academic excellence coupled with social and moral development was captured in the paper. The challenges that might arise in implementing balance strategies were also examined. The paper came up with some recommendations on ways to mitigate these challenges.

Keywords: Social challenges, Moral Development, Academic Performance.

REFERENCES

  • Abdullahi, M. A. (2008). The Effects of Secondary School Students Truant Behaviour on Educational Development: Counselling Intervention. Sokoto Education Review. Vol 10 (2).213-22
  • Adepoju, A. (2015). The feminisation of Poverty in Nigerian Cities: Insights from Focus Group Discussion and Participatory Poverty 1 Assessment, www.bioline.org.br/pdf?ep04024
  • Adeowu, A.W.etal (2017).Effects of Broken Homes on Academic Achievement in Social Studies Classroom: The Need for Home Assignment International Journal of Current Studies in Education.Vol. 1(2). 161-179
  • Adeowu, A. W (2017).Towards Improving Students Academic Achievement and Moral Behaviour of Students. International Journal of Current Studies in Education.Vol. 1(2). 41-55
  • Amakom, U. (2020). Report of the Baseline Study for Christian Aid’s Evidence and Collaboration for Inclusive Development (ECID) Project in Anambra and Kaduna States, Nigeria
  • Birchall, J. (2019). Overview of Social Exclusion in Nigeria. K4D Helpdesk Report. Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies.
  • Bliss, C. (2006). Integrating Meaning and Purpose: The Student-Centered College Classroom. Journal of College and Character, 7(1), 1-5.
  • Boutwell, B.B and Beaver, K.M. (2010). The Role of Broken Homes in the Development of Self-control: A Propensity Score Matching Approach. Journal of Criminal Justice 38 (4) 489-495.
  • Breen, R., & Jonsson, J. O. (2005). Inequality of Opportunity in Comparative Perspective: Recent Research on Educational Attainment and Social Mobility. Annual Review of Sociology, 31, 223-243.
  • Cassimjee, J. (2018). Peer Interaction in a Natural Setting. London: Macmillan Publishers.
  • Coleman, J. W. and Cressey, D. R. (2019). Social Problems. England: Longman, Addison Wesley Longman Inc.
  • Daramola, C. O. (2014). Introduction to Sociology of Education. Ibadan: Gloryland Publishing Company, Ibadan.
  • Douglas, J.W.B. (2001). The Home and the School: Study of Ability and Attainment in Primary School.  London. MGC Gibbon and Kee Ltd.
  • Eitzen (2009). Social Problems: Boston: Allyn and Bacon.  Elliot, D. S. and Harwin L. (2014). Delinquency and Dropout. Baltimore: John Hopkins University.Centre for Social Organization of School.
  • Kapambwe, G.M. (2014). An Investigation into the Relationship between Home Background and Scholastic Achievement of Group of Junior Secondary School Pupils in Zambia-Labaka: UMZA, Press.
  • Kessy, A.T. (2020) Demand and Supply side of Accountability in Local Government Authorities in Tanzania. Public Integrity.
  • Mayor, A. & Ogbogbo, G.O.(2019) The Nexus between Teaching Methods and Academic Performance of Students in Anambra State. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 3(3) 365-369.
  • Moges, B., and Weber, K. (2014). Parental Influence on the Emotional Development of Children. Developmental Psychology at Vanderbilt. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from              https://my.vanderbilt.edu/developmental psychology blog/2014/05/parental influence-on-the emotional development-of-children.
  • NBS and UNICEF (2019) Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2016/2017: National Survey Funding Report. National Bureau of Statistics and United Nations Children’s Fund: Abuja.          www.unicef.org/nigeria/reports/multiple-indicator-cluster-survey-2016-17-mics
  • Obaydullah, A.K.M. & Nusrat, J. (2019) Science Classes at the Primary Schools of Bngladesh: Classroom Practice and Challenges. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 3(3)
  • Obi, Z.C., Okpala, C.P. and Ezemba, C.C. (2019) Involvement of Missions and Government in  Education Administration of Secondary Schools in Anambra State, Nigeria, Online Journal of Arts, Management and Social Sciences; Vol. 4,(1), pg. 214 – 224.
  • Okenyodo, K. (2018). Study on Marginalized Groups in the Context of ID in Nigeria. National   Identification for Development (ID4D) Project
  • Oni, A. A. (2010). Peer Group Pressure as a Determinant of Adolescent Social Adjustment in Nigeria schools.
  • Onwuamanam, D.O. (2018). Critical Issues in the Values of Adolescents: Today Implications for Counselling.
  • Orisa, A.A (2009). Impact of Family Disintegration on the Academic Achievement of Secondary School Students. Nigerian Journal of Social Studies Vol. XII (1), pg 88-94
  • Osaat, S. D. (2019). The Relevance of Moral Education to Social and Political Development in Nigeria. Journal of Teacher Education and Teaching 3 (1 & 3). PP. 52-63.
  • Osa-Edoh, G. E. and Iyanmu, F. I. (2012). Social Life Adjustment and Academic Achievement of Adolescents in Edo State: Implication for Counselling. Journal of Applied Sciences.
  • Pratt, B. (2019) Inclusion of Marginalized Groups and Communities in Global Health Research Priority-Setting. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics, 14(2), 169–181.
  • Robinson, M. (2019) Social Studies Students Teachers’ Views on the implementation of Learners-Centered Approach in Zambian Primary Schools. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 3(3) 101-109.
  • Saikia, R. (2017). Broken Family: It Causes and Effects on the Development of Children. International Journal of Applied Research 3 (2) 445-448.