Parental Level of Education as a Socio-Motivational factor for Peace Education and Academic Performance of Students in Colleges of Education in Nigeria

Abstract

This study focused on the influence of parental level of education as a socio-motivational factor for peace education and academic performance among students in colleges of education in the north-west geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The study rests on the hypothesis that there is no significant difference between the parental level of education and academic performance of students in colleges of education. The information on students’ parental level of education was obtained from 389 students (300 level) drawn from eight (8) Colleges of Education along with their Grade Point Average (GPA) which served as a major parameter for measuring of academic performance. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the differences in the performance of students’ vis-à-vis their parental level of education. The findings of this study revealed that there is no significant difference between the parental levels of education and academic performance of students. The study, therefore, recommends that parents stand better chance to effect change in the behaviour repertoire of children towards attaining the much-needed peace using education as the most viable and effective instrument. Thus, teachers should also devise means of giving equal treatment to students based on group work and participatory techniques but not based on their parental educational or socio-economic background. Further, courses such as Civic Education should be re-introduced in our schools with a view to re-orienting the younger generation of their civic responsibilities towards building strong, just and crisis-free society.