CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Recently, there has been an interest amongst education scholars to find out the role that a church plays in his academic performance of students, be it high school or at college.
Academic performance or academic achievement is the extent to which a teacher or a student or organization has reached their long or short-term educational goals. CGPA, or Grade/percentage and educational degrees’ awards such as secondary School and Master’s degrees defines a students academic achievement (Shahid, 2010).
The church may affect the student’s academic achievement in the following ways:
1) Punctuality (prayer teaches the students cleanliness and regularity of time)
2) Good attitude.
3) Disciplined (prayer, makes them disciplined)
4) Work harder in school (teaching of patience and gratitude make a student work hard.
5) Adopt norms and values that help attainment (teachings of Bible and values help to adopt them.)
6) Avoid socially deviant behavior (truth and honesty teach the students to avoid these)
7) Higher grade point average/percentage/grade. (result of religious practices and values) (Nakhon, 2015).
According to Fukofuka (2007), numerous studies proposed that in the academic performance of the students, the church has a positive effect on it. That is, he simply says that church plays an important role on the academic performance of the students. In his study on the impact of church on academic performance, the outcome shows that students who do well credit their church as the major reason, and students who do poorly blame their lack of spirituality as being a major reason for their unsatisfactory academic performance.
One of the principal goals of students is to be successful in their examinations and be able to graduate with flying colors. The yearning for a greater future motivates and persuades students into looking out for a better future with academic success with as much strength and ability that lie in their power. From the beginners’ level to the higher level of education, there have been statistics which suggest that poor academic performance has led to the eventual cease of students’ education. Students are prone to find the best means for success in academics. Some of them seek this success through some of the different listed ways: drug use, examination malpractices, hard work, bribery, spiritual means and other means. There have been different opinions about the role that church plays in academic success. Some people either agree or disagree instantly on the topic. Others are also of the opinion that the role that church plays in academics is dependent on the level of the student’s engagement.
A number research works has shown that the students are bolder and do better intellectually by teaching. There is a positive impact of the church on student’s success because of these studies. Personally, church participation goes a very long way to assist in lowering the rates of boundary activities, substance abuse that adversely affect school vocations. Students who contribute in church activities have completed the excellent to censor other types of social draws. For example, a student who prays numerous times a day or who doesn’t miss Church every Sunday is never being originated in a saloon. Besides, these students complete his duties on time (Shishu, 2012). Numerous studies show that being involved in a church group inscribes conformism such as completing assignments or going to classes. While the people who are away from church and from God are more frequently observed in anxiety, loneliness, depression and substance abuse. Depressed students most times favor to hop classes, to reappearance home and start to use alcohol. Religious practices give birth a social support outdoor the family to battle aloneness. Students are more satisfied because they have admission to the wanted provision. Students who are religious also arise to devote time and energy to a different pro-social reasons. Religious students help to attach schools with the nearby community and provide helpers and companies with groups (Zhang, 2012). The study also revealed that most helpers are religious students. There is a positive correlation between church and academic success, because church helps for the disciplined life and produce moral values. Religious teachers teach student to be more prompt, disciplined, to show positive attitudes, and inspire lusty behaviors. Religious practices and beliefs make the believers to become able to contract with troubles and demanding situations that might negatively affect their theoretical or career achievements than non-believers who may feel worrying and completely lost. Church influence by creating a family like atmosphere for those who have single parent thus affecting by another way. Church is one of the factors that have a positive impact on family life and family life has good impact on educational success. Religious families are more capable to establish Healthy family relationships, established by religious families have more social control (Finn, 2009). Church could indirectly influence student’s educational achievement, by influencing social activities satisfaction and other outcomes such as interactions with teachers and satisfaction at school (Shishu, 2012). It is on this note that the study seeks to analyze the impact of the church on academic performance of students (a case study of Church of God Mission, Benin).
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
One of the principal goals of students is to be successful in their examinations and be able to graduate with flying colors. The yearning for a greater future motivates and persuades students into looking out for a better future with academic success with as much strength and ability that lie in their power. From the beginners’ level to the higher level of education, there have been statistics which suggest that poor academic performance has led to the eventual cease of students’ education. Students are prone to find the best means for success in academics. Some of them seek this success through some of the different listed ways: drug use, examination malpractices, hard work, bribery, spiritual means and other means. There have been different opinions about the role that church plays in academic success. Some people either agree or disagree instantly on the topic. Others are also of the opinion that the role that church plays in academics is dependent on the level of the student’s engagement. The study will analyze the impact of the church on academic performance of students (a case study of Church of God Mission, Benin).
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
This paper will focus on the impact of the church on academic performance of students. The study will give a vivid scene to point out the perception of students on the church; identify the ways in which spirituality supports students in their academic pursuits; and identify the ways in which spirituality hampers the academic success of students.
- The analyze the relationship between church and academic success.
- The study will also examine if the church helps for the disciplined life and creates moral values, which can in turn boost the academic performance of students.
- The study will ascertain if religious families are more capable to establish Healthy family relationships, established by religious families have more social control.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following are the research questions of the study;
- What impact does the church have on academic performance of students?
- What are the ways in which spirituality supports students in their academic pursuits; and identify the ways in which spirituality hampers the academic success of students.
- What is the relationship between church and academic success?
- Do you think the church helps for the disciplined life and creates moral values, which can in turn boost the academic performance of students?
- Do you think religious families are more capable to establish Healthy family relationships, established by religious families have more social control?
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
H01: there is a significant relationship between the church and academic success of students.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The study covers Church of God Mission, Benin. The unit of analysis is the members of Church of God Mission, Benin. Church of God Mission, Benin members were chosen in the present study given the need to explore the impact of the church on academic performance of students.
1.7 Significance of the study
This study will look intensively on the impact of the church on academic performance of students (a case study of Church of God Mission, Benin). It will be beneficial to stakeholders in the educational sector such as teachers, parents, students, school management, and ministries of education, educational researchers, and the society at large.
The study sheds light on the impact of church on academic performance of students (a case study of Church of God Mission, Benin). The study can serve as a valuable resource for students, scholars seeking to research more on the topic in question. The recommendations in the study will enhance good moral values.
