SOCIOLOGICAL IMPACT OF (COVID-19) ON EDUCATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN AWKA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

The study investigated sociological impact of (COVID-19) on education of secondary school students in Awka South Local Government Area. one purpose corresponding to one research question guided the study. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population of the study was 1061 SS2 students, in the 19 public secondary schools in Awka South Local Government Area. The sample size was 150 respondents selected through simple random sampling technique. Questionnaire designed by the researchers was the instrument used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts in the Faculty of Education, all from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. In addition, mean score was adopted for data analysis. Findings showed that the sociological impact of COVID 19 pandemic on secondary school students education include: denying students increase in ability which is their primary point of being in school, lack of access to interact with technological resources, depression, anger, anxiety, low self-esteem, aggressive and mental disorder, inability to pay school fees on time, lack of fund for transportation to school, increased the rate of school dropout among students and child labour among some students Examinations were postponed due to COVID 19 pandemic and it affected learning engagement, teachers were not very effective in teaching during COVID 19 pandemic and so on. Based on the finding of this study, the researcher concluded that COVID 19 pandemic has negative educational impact on secondary school students in Awka south Local Government Area. It was therefore recommended among others that Government should ensure effective fumigation and disinfection of schools in Nigeria periodically. Suggestions were also made for further studies.