CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

 The importance of schools in countering the threat of cultism cannot be overstated. According to Smith (2009), a child who is upset by schoolwork failure is more likely to misbehave than a child who is good.In colleges, repressive institutional laws and a lack of a proper institutional environment contribute to a high level of indiscipline. It is important to note that the teacher's classroom environment has an effect on students' interpersonal relationships. According to Aghenta (2009), one of the earliest ways to get everyone interested in school activities is to enable knowledge to flow up and down communication channels.The staff and students should be correctly  and properly informed of the affairs of the school. Everybody in the system must be directly or indirectly involved as failure in this way may lead to gross immoral conduct and discipline problems. Since cultism has found its root in most tertiary institutions, the school administrators on their part are also fighting hard to curb or minimize their activities. The National Policy on Education (2014) made it crystal clear that the quality of instruction at all levels has to be oriented towards inculcating the following values:respect for the worth and dignity of the individual, faith in man’s ability to make rational decision, moral and spiritual values in inter-personal and human relations, shared responsibility for the common good of the society.It becomes clear therefore that Nigerians believe that all sound and meaningful education should be rooted and grounded in moral uprightness and sound spiritual values.To cope with cultism, the school often employs a variety of techniques, ranging from warnings to rustication. Despite these corrective steps, cultism continues to exist in almost all Nigerian tertiary institutions. The public awareness campaign strategy often tries to make public through various media the evil of cultism. People are still feeling the strengths and weaknesses of this public awareness campaign approach, as predicted.On admission to any tertiary institution, students with positive desire for cultism often look out for any slight opportunity which they can be recruited into any cult. Some are often forced into joining especially children from affluent homes while others join either as a result of social or academic problem. It must be stressed that some other students are often afraid of anything that has to do with cultism. Through the public enlightenment campaign strategy, new intakes are often conscientised to hate or shun secret cult through the orientation programmes which could feature testimonies of ex-cultists, drama stretches, leaflets and other magazines exposing the activities of cultists.These techniques are used by a number of universities and other tertiary institutions. Various administrations often establish disciplinary boards, and most tertiary institutions hold orientation programs.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

s a result of the activities of various hidden cults, Nigerian tertiary institutions have become "war zones." There have been reports of intermittent shooting, especially at night, as well as rapping, maiming, and stealing by these cult members. Residents of these organizations are constantly afraid of being targeted, which leads to cult-related issues.Members are veiled in darkness and their practices are nocturnal, so activities are addressed in low tones. School administrators cannot simply fold their arms and watch these cultists take over the school.Also the speed of harmony is dictated by the school administration. As a result, corrective actions are taken, as well as public awareness mobilization initiatives.

OJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The following are the primary objective of this study

1.     To examine how staff and students in Nigerian tertiary institutions feel about the use of School Disciplinary measures in the eradication of cultism.

2.     To determine staff and student views of the use of social enlightenment campaign strategy in the eradication of cultism in Nigerian tertiary education institutions.

HYPOTHESES

1. There is no significant difference between staff and students perceptions of the use of school disciplinary measures adopted to eradicate cultism.

2. There is no significant difference between staff and students perceptions of the use of the use of social enlightenment campaign strategy in the eradication of cultism in tertiary institutions.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will be of significance to tertiary institution administrators and students as it will serve as a guide in curbing the menace of cultism in higher institution of learning.it will also be beneficial to scholars and researchers who will wish to carry out further research on this study

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The aim of this research is to examine the utilization of social enlightenment campaign strategy and school disciplinary measures in the management and eradication of cultism in tertiary institution and the sample respondent of this study will be staff and students of cross river university of technology(CRUTECH),Calabar.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Finance,time constraint and lack of research materials were the challenges the researcher encountered during the course of this study.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

CULT:a cult is a social group that is defined by its unusual religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs, or by its common interest in a particular personality, object, or goal.

ENLIGHTENMENT:The act of enlightening or the state of being enlightened.

TERTIARY INSTITUTION:Tertiary education, also referred to as third-level, third-stage or post-secondary education, is the educational level following the completion of secondary education.

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