CHAPTER ONE

BACKGROUND OF STUDY

This project attempts to examine the effect of strike on the academic performance of schools in Nigeria at large and Oredo L.G.A. of Edo State in particular. The secondary school community is composed of many staff unions; strike by any of these unions has a tendency of lowering the standard of education.

In this work, attention will be paid to the impact of Nigeria Union of Teacher (NUT) strike action on student’s academic performance. This is primary because NUT performs the initial functions of inculcating knowledge on Nigeria secondary schools students. The researcher will also examine the effects NUT strike has on the quality and standard   of school leavers produced from secondary schools.

A study of this nature is necessary because education has the universal function of contributing to the perpetration of societies by transmitting ideals, values and norms from generation to generation thereby preparing the youth for active role in the society. Education also displays the value conflicts that exist between ideals and real norms that are typical of all cultures.

Fafunwa (1994) in recantation of the above facts stated that an ideal educational medium should be able to help the beneficiaries, develop the abilities, attitude and others forms of behaviour which are positive value to the society in which they live. Aristotle (1988) also recognized the indispensable function of education, which he stated in his book that the aims of education should include;

a.                  The realizations of the capabilities and potential of individuals

b.                  The development of the body  

c.                  The training of the appetites which is character or moral development

d.                  The development of the intellect or reason. He further hold that non of the above should be emphasized at the expense of the others

In line with the above aims and functions of education, the Nigeria government in its 1981 policy on education are the building;

1.                  A free and democratic society

2.                  A just and egalitarian society

3.                  A United, strong and self-reliant nation

4.                  A great and dynamic economy

5.                  A land full of bright and full opportunity for all citizens

Presently, education in Nigeria has not been able to achieve the noble objective because it is in deep problems. Paramount among these problems is the incessant NUT strike, which has often disrupted academic activities. Many reasons can be seen responsible for these incessant strikes by the NUT. Prominent among those problems according to NUT are those of funding, lacks of autonomy and dehumanizing working conditions in trying to find a lasting solution to these problems, the long commission set up by the federal government recommended in their report a 90% funding level for next fifteen years 1992-2007.

These recommendations were adopted in the agreement between the federal government of Nigeria and the NUT unfortunately government reneged on the agreement. For instance, funding in 1996 should have been four times more than what was prescribed by the report but fell short of this expectation because of government attitude towards funding education. The economic down turn and the foreign exchange rates did not help matters.

Judging from the economic down turn, the review of the agreement which government bluntly turned down. Folioing this there has been several strikes action by the Nigerian Union of Teachers since then this situation was further aggravated by the way government reacted to NUTS strike action. Instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue with the teachers, the governments sacked some and even went as far as forcefully ejecting them from their official quarters.

In addition to the humiliation, government refused to pay them their salaries and other entitlement. As a result of this, most teachers left for the private sectors while some others went to private schools in search of greener pastures. Some student’s looks to crime, while others also secured temporary employments and yet others get involve in street hawking and became juvenile delinquents. The consequence of these strike action has led to a condition fall in education standard.

The conflict between the federal government and teachers has been occurring intermittently in some state secondary schools following from this, it becomes pertinent that a lasting solutions be formed through a comprehensive research on the effect of strike on the academic standard of students. This work intends to do this by drawing government attention to the various steps to be taken in order to eliminate these problems once and for all.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

The conflict of teachers academic strike action is an agent of social change in an organization. Educational administration is concerned with the effects and influences of strike (conflicts) on the education sector in particular and the social economic and political sector in general.

Oyewole (1988) notes the secondary schools are no longer regarded as luxury ‘towers’ because they can no longer fulfill their traditional function of development, transfer and presentation of knowledge. The gloomy situation in secondary schools in Nigeria within the past few years at least to the fact that these centres of learning have diminishing the fulfillment of their roles. Studies have shown that there is an increase in examination malpractices and ‘blocking’ in order to pass exam. These have been attributed to the rush students are subjected to the course of disrupted academic calendar.

RESEARCH QUESTION 

  Based on the above stated problems the study shall answer this question;

i.                    Is there a relationship between NUT strike action and level of academic performance?

PURPOSE OF STUDY

The main purpose of this study is to attract the attention of both the educationist and non-educationalist to the effect of strike on the academic performance of students, and to also examine the causes of strike by Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT). The following variables shall be examined;

a.                  Poor funding

b.                  Inadequate staffing

c.                  Lack of autonomy

d.                  State of infrastructure of the secondary schools

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

            The importance of this study is to bring to the knowledge of the public; the effects of NUT strike actions on our educational system. The impact of strike on our secondary schools and the academic performance of the students by the academic staffs and the secondary schools in enhancing socio-economic and political development of the nation.

SCOPE OF STUDY

Strike action by NUT is not peculiar to some selected secondary schools in Oredo L.G.A. alone but to all secondary school in Nigeria. This study intends to carryout a comparative analysis of 6 years performance chart of the final year students (SSS III) of some selected secondary school in Oredo L.G.A. as collected by the examination and this study intends to carryout a comparative analysis of three years performance chart of the SS 1 and SS II students in Imaguero and Idia College secondary school in Oredo L.G.A. as  collected by the examination and class teachers records.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

            As mentioned earlier in this chapter, strike is not peculiar to only Oredo Local Government Area secondary schools; all secondary schools are faced with this social problems. But the writer shall limit the study to some selected secondary school sin Oredo L.G.A. of Edo State because of financial constraint and the short time span this study is to be completed.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

            In the research, some terms, which are used connotatively, are defined and classified to enable use understand the context they are used.

L.G.A.: Local Governemnt Area

Instructional Aids (materials): These are teaching materials which teachers use in order to assist in his teaching.

Teaching: A process which bring about a relative change in behaviour over time in academic situation

Method: this is the procedure in which a goal can be achieved in teaching

Student: A person who is studying at a school or college

 Teachers: A person who teaches (profession)

Strike: A time or period when work is not done because of disagreement over pay or working conditions

Academics: Teaching and studying in a college or schools subjects taught to provide skills for the mind rather than for the hand.

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