Analysis of the Effect of Conflict on the Performance of Students in WAEC Examination in Civic Education

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

 Background To The Study

Conflict is described as a disagreement between two or more people over an issue caused by unexpected behavior, a shift in attitude, or a denial of right (Mogbo, 2002). At this age, conflict between parents and teenagers might be the outcome of a chain reaction. Force, excessive control, and denial of rights by parents may emerge from a change in the adolescent’s mindset as a result of the developmental period. When an adolescent’s needs aren’t addressed, he will fight with anybody or everything that comes along.

Conflict is defined as a dispute between two or more people that causes distress to all parties concerned. The teenager is stressed by adolescent-parental conflict as well as the developmental period. He requires assistance and support, and because his parents are unable to provide it due to the disagreement, the teenager seeks advice from his peers. This is the basis for maladjustment (Forehand et al, 2001), since it provides a chance to imitate poor habits and life attitudes. If the adolescent’s maladjustment is not appropriately addressed, it might have a negative impact on his or her development.

When marital conflict impairs the parent-child connection, children from households with marital conflict have worse academic attainment. When the parent-child bond remains unaffected, the opposite is true (Miliotis Sesma and Masten, 2007). This shows that a positive parent-child relationship is critical for a child’s academic success. When parents’ relationships with their children are strained, they become worried and dissatisfied. The degree of teenage parental conflict and its impact varies from person to person, family to family, and society to society.

It is greater between dads and sons in certain circumstances, and between mothers and daughters in others, and vice versa. In some families, adolescent parental conflict is uncommon, short-lived, and modest in intensity. Other families or groups, on the other hand, may require the assistance of a therapist (Allison, 2000).

Another key cause of conflict is a communication barrier or inappropriate communication. Adolescents feel unduly constrained when they are not provided reasons why they should or should not do something. They grow enraged and, in some cases, rebel against their parents. Winex and Anderson (2007; Winex and Anderson, 2007).

Academic performance (Scortt’s, 2012) refers to how successfully a student completes his or her activities and studies. The most well-known indication of academic success is grades. Grades are a student’s “score” for each class and for their whole academic career. Grades are usually calculated by adding up or averaging assignment and test results, and they can be influenced by factors like as attendance and the instructor’s assessment of the student.

Grading scales vary widely by county and school; popular scales include a percentage scale from 1-100, lettering systems from A-F, and grade point averages (GPA) ranging from 0-4.0 or higher. Academic performance, according to Ward, Stocker, and Murray-Ward (2006), refers to the outcome of education, or the amount to which a student, instructor, or institution has met their educational objectives. Academic achievement is defined as the capacity to learn and recall things, as well as the ability to transmit one’s knowledge vocally or in writing (Answers, 2010).

In this study, performance refers to the degree to which pupils have mastered the goals of the disciplines to which they are exposed in school. Academic accomplishment has been noticed in school courses, particularly mathematic and English language, among secondary school pupils, according to (Aremu and Sokan 2003).

Statement Of The Problem

Adolescence is a demanding developmental time in which the youngster must deal with several challenges and ask countless questions about himself, his changing surroundings, and his future vocation ( Amos, 2020). If he wants to have employment satisfaction in the future, this is also the time to work hard and choose a vocational decision that is both fit for his abilities and interests. More than ever, the youngster requires the protection of his or her parents and instructors. Most adults set a bad example by fighting amongst themselves in front of children, and in many cases, they may be the ones encouraging them to engage in conflict, oblivious to the fact that it may have a negative impact on their educational sector, and all of these uncalled for actions are simply unnecessary. Finally, multiple studies have been conducted on the influence of conflict on student academic performance, but not a single study has been conducted to analyze the impact of conflict on student performance in the WAEC civic education test in Jos, Plateau state.

Aims And Objectives Of Study

The main aim of the study is to determine the impact of conflict on the performance of students in WAEC examination in civic education in Jos metropolis. Other specific objectives of the study include:

1. to determine the effect of conflict on the performance of students in WAEC examination in civic education in Jos metropolis.

2. to determine the extent to which conflict affects the performance of students in WAEC examination in civic education in Jos Metropolis.

3. to determine the influence of conflict on the performance of students in WAEC examination.

4. to proffer possible solutions to the problems.

 Research Questions    

1. What is the effect of conflict on the performance of students in WAEC examination in civic education in Jos metropolis?

2. What is the extent to which conflict affects the performance of students in WAEC examination in civic education in Jos Metropolis?

3. What is the influence of conflict on the performance of students in WAEC examination?

4. What are the possible solutions to the problems?

 Significance Of Study

The study on the impact of conflict on students’ performance in WAEC civic education examinations will be of enormous benefit to the entire Jos metropolis of Plateau state in the sense that it will enable the government to hire competent teachers to teach the students, as well as the school management to set up a committee to deal with conflict defaulters in the school. The study will also allow instructors to examine their own lives so that they may be brave enough to present it as the finest model for their pupils to emulate, because students look up to teachers for any kind of life style they depict. Finally, the study will add to the body of current literature and expertise, as well as provide a foundation for future research.

 Scope Of Study

The research on the influence of conflict on student performance is limited to the WAEC examination in civic education in Jos, Plateau state.

 Limitation Of Study

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

 Definition Of Terms

Impact: A marked effect or influence.

Conflict: Refers to some form of friction, or discord arising within a group when the beliefs or actions of one or more members of the group are either resisted by or unacceptable to one or more members of another group.

Performance: Is the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their short or long-term educational goals.

Students: Is primarily a person enrolled in a school or other educatiobnal institution who attends classes in a course to attain the appropriate level of mastery of a subject under the guidance of an instructor and who devotes time outside class to do whatever activities the instructor assigns that are necessary either for class preparation or to submit evidence of progress towards that mastery.

Examination: A formal test of a person’s knowledge or proficiency in a subject or skill.

Civic Education: In a democracy is education in self government. Democratic self government means that citizens are actively involved in their own governance; they do not just passively accept the dictums of others or acquiesce to the demands of others.