CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS OF INSECURITY ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF UNDERGRADUATES IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH EAST GEOPOLITICAL ZONE: IMPLICATIONS TO SOCIETAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The study investigated challenges and solutions of insecurity on academic performance of undergraduates in public universities in south east geopolitical zone. Two research questions guided the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 93,126 undergraduates comprising 42139 males and 50982 females. A sample of 600 students was involved in the study. The sample was composed using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire developed by researchers. The questionnaire was duly validated and its internal consistency was ascertained using Cronbach Alpha. Mean was used to analyze the data collected. The findings of the study revealed that insecurity makes learning environment unconducive, disrupts academic activities and make some students drop out of school. Insecurity affects students reading habit, many undergraduates do not go for night classes because of the fear of being killed and it deprives students from engaging in group discussion which affects their grade among others. This has reduced their academic engagements and performance in school. This led to the conclusion that insecurity hampers academic performance of undergraduates in public universities in south east geopolitical Zone. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that government and school management should provide competent security personnel at the school gate as well as the provision of CCTV in key areas on campus.