INVESTIGATING THE AWARENESS AND IMPACT OF CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO MORAL DECADENCE AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN KWARA STATE

This study examined Awareness and Impact of Contributing Factors to Moral Decadence among Undergraduates in Kwara State. Students of tertiary institutions historically recognized for moral integrity and strong academic results are now synonymous with the insane atmosphere of examination malpractice, fighting, cultism, school abuse, drug abuse, sexual immorality, use offensive language on lectrers and other types of unethical problems. In Chapter One, four objectives were set for this study. The objectives were to examine the forms of moral decadence that are common among undergraduates of tertiary institutions in Kwara State, to determine the causes of moral decadence among undergraduates of tertiary institutions in Kwara State, to identify the implication of moral decadence to academic performance among undergraduates of tertiary institutions in Kwara State, and to find out the strategies for curbing moral decadence among undergraduates of tertiary institutions in Kwara State. Chapter One also presents research questions, justification of the study, scope and operational definition of terms. In Chapter Two, conceptual framework, empirical framework and theoretical framework were presented. Under the conceptual review, an overview of moral decadence, prevalence of moral decadence among youths, causes of moral decadence in Nigeria as well as the consequences of moral decadence in Nigeria were presented. The empirical review dealt with the examination of various existing works that are related to the context of this work. Additionally, the theory considered most appropriate for this study is Social Learning Theory (SLT). However, the researcher adopted quantitative research design and employed the use of survey research method. The population of this study is the students of The Federal Polytechnic Offa and Kwara State College of Health Technology Offa. Purposive sampling technique is the method adopted in the course of selecting the sample for the study while Taro Yamane model was used to determine the sample size to be 200. The researcher instrument employed in this study is questionnaire. In this study, the data collected from the selected respondents were presented, analyzed and interpreted statistically using tables with simple frequency and percentage. Findings from the study revealed that 45 per cent of the respondents were aware that moral decadence is common among undergraduates of tertiary institutions in Kwara State. This is as 35 per cent of them said they are highly aware while 17.5 per cent said they are slightly aware. The study also found that 39 per cent of the respondents opined that indecent dressing is the common form of indecent dressing among undergraduates of tertiary institutions in Kwara State. In the same vein, 27.5 per cent identified bullying and harassment, and 22.5 per cent others said substance abuse while 11 per cent cheating/fraudulent are the common form of indecent dressing among undergraduates of tertiary institutions in Kwara State. 33.5 per cent of the respondents identified lack of parental guidance, poor role modeling by adults and peers, social media influence and inadequate moral and character education as the as the causes of moral decadence among undergraduates of tertiary institutions in Kwara State. It was also discovered that 38 per cent of the respondents opined that moral decadence has negative effect on academic performance of undergraduates of tertiary institutions in Kwara State. In lieu of the foregoing, the researcher concludes that moral decadence is a common problem in the Nigerian tertiary institutions which needed urgent attention by the government and general public to address and sanitize the impunity and negative effect it may cause on the academic exercise and in the ramification of life. The study recommends that policymakers and other stakeholders in education sector should ensure that they incorporate moral education courses into undergraduate programmes to promote ethical values, ciritical thinking and responsible decision-making, and that tertiary institution managements should consider establishment of counseling services.