CULT ACTIVITIES AMONG PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN IDDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE: COUNSELING IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

This study investigated cult activities among the public secondary school students in Iddo Local Government Area of Oyo State and its counselling implications. The design for the study was a descriptive survey type. The population of the study were all teachers in public secondary schools in Iddo Local Government Area (LGA) of Oyo State. 20 public secondary schools were randomly selected within the LGA through Random Sampling Techniques. In each school, 20 teachers were also selected through Random Sampling Techniques. A total of four hundred (400) respondents were used for the study. A self-made instrument labelled “Cult Activities among Secondary Students Questionnaire (CASSQ)” was used to collect data. The questionnaire was divided into two sections. Section A contained the respondents’ personal data while section B and C consisted of the 20 question- items. In consideration of content validity, the instrument was given to experts in the field of Educational Management and Counselling for scrutiny. Corrections were made before administration of the questionnaire. Test and retest method was used and a reliability coefficient of 0.85 was obtained. Simple percentage was used to analyse the three research questions. It was established that cultism among students in public secondary schools is at alarming rate and had resulted in various vices that have affect the students negatively and in the development of the society. Recommendations were made that law enforcement agencies should be adequately equipped and up and doing in curbing the menace of cults without prejudice to anybody, childhood development and guidance/counselling programmes be made effective in all school areas of study and that there is need to maintain discipline and justice in the school system to sustain peaceful coexistence among the students.