Factors Associated with Mass Failure of Students in Christian Religious Studies in Secondary Schools in Egbeda Local Government Area, Oyo State

Abstract

This study analyzed the factors related to mass failure among students in Christian Religious Studies (CRS) in secondary schools in the Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. The continual decline in the academic performance of students in CRS has been a cause for concern, and the importance of CRS is to develop character and moral standards in students. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Five Secondary schools were selected using a simple random sampling technique, while respondents, comprising teachers (40) and students (60), were selected from the sampled schools. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 100 respondents, and all copies of the questionnaire were successfully retrieved, resulting in a 100% response rate. Data were analyzed using mean scores with a decision benchmark of 2.50. The findings revealed that mass failure in CRS is influenced by several interrelated factors, including inadequate instructional materials, ineffective instructional methods, insufficient teacher qualification, limited instructional time, student truancy, and weak parental involvement. A representative finding showed that inadequate instructional materials were a major contributing factor (M = 3.21), indicating a high level of respondents’ agreement. The study further established that improved instructional resources, continuous teacher professional development, a conducive school environment, and stable educational policies could significantly enhance students’ academic performance in CRS. The study concluded that the problem of mass failure in CRS is multidimensional and requires coordinated intervention by government, school administrators, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders. It is therefore recommended that the provision of adequate instructional materials, sustained teacher capacity development, and strengthened school supervision be improved to improve students’ learning outcomes in CRS.