EXAMINING THE LINK BETWEEN SOCIAL INSECURITY AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE IN OYO METROPOLIS SECONDARY SCHOOLS, OYO, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study sought to establish the link between social insecurity and students’ academic 
performance in Agricultural science among selected secondary schools in Oyo metropolis 
of Oyo state. It also verifies whether gender has any influence on perceived insecurity of 
school environment as a determinant of academic performance of the students in 
Agricultural Science. The study adopted correlational research design with the population 
that consist all senior secondary schools two students in all the four local government 
areas (Oyo west, Oyo East, Afijio and Atiba local) Oyo metropolis of Oyo State. A total 
number of 400 students were used from each sampled school, with 100 students from 
each local government area (5 males and 5 females), the sample was drawn through 
proportional sampling technique from forty (40) sampled schools within Oyo metropolis 
local government areas of Oyo State. A validated instrument tagged “Perceived 
Precariousness of School Surrounding and Academic Performance Questionnaire 
(PPSSAPQ)” was used for collection of data. The reliability of the instrument of 0.88 was 
obtained using Cronbach Alpha method. Two research questions and null hypotheses 
which were formulated as a guide for this study. Data were collected from respondents 
face to face and on the spot then analyzed using Pearson's r, R² (coefficient of 
determination) while inferential statistics of multiple regressions and ANOVA were used 
to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 levels of significance. The results obtained in this study 
indicated that the perceived precariousness of the school surrounding significantly 
predicts senior secondary school students' academic performance in agricultural science 
while gender does not significantly affect the academic performance of students in 
agricultural science in a perceived precariousness situation. It was concluded that 
secondary school students should be informed on the significant of perceived 
precariousness in the school environments as a determinant of their academic 
performance in agricultural science. It was recommended that strong awareness or 
orientation should be given to students on the importance of perceived precariousness in 
the school environment as it determined the academic performance achievement of 
agricultural science students.