INFLUENCE OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Education is a tool that plays an important role in the preparation of young people for full participation in the society. The study investigated Effect of Community Violence and Trauma on academic achievements of secondary school students in Niger State, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey design and ex-post facto research design. The population of the study consisted of
49,954 Senior Secondary School One students in Niger State, Nigeria. Using Research Advisors Table for Determining sample size of the given population, a sample size of 383 respondents was randomly selected, using Dip hat method from 25 secondary schools in the State. The researcher used a validated instrument known as Community Violence and Trauma on the Academic Achievement Questionnaire (CVAITQ) to collect data from the respondents. Scores in six subjects at Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) were used as instrument to assess the students' academic achievement. Test-retest method were used to ascertain the reliability of one of the instruments. The coefficient was ascertained using Pearson Product Moment Correlation with a reliability of 0.88. Descriptive statistics, frequency counts. Percentage mean scores were used to answer the two research questions, while t-test was used to analyse and test the two null hypotheses at 0.05 significance level. Findings from the study revealed negative effect of physical violence and Trauma on the academic achievement of secondary school students in Niger State Nigeria. Similarly, there is a negative influence of physical, psychological violence and Trauma on the academic achievement of secondary school students The study recommended that the school proprietors should employ the services of more professionals Trauma counsellors and psychologists
who could identify and extend their services to the homes of students who encounter psychological, physical violence and Trauma. The implication of the findings were stated and recommendations were made on effective ways of handling community violence.