AN EXAMINATION OF THE ATTRITION RATE OF STUDENTS TO THE STUDY OF CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES IN OWO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ONDO STATE

Abstract

 This research investigates the attrition rate of Students to the study of Christian Religious Studies in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State. Religion is very important and therefore, it is included in the National Policy of Education right from primary to tertiary level of education (NPE, 2014). In spite of the importance of the subject, students’ attitude towards the subject is not encouraging. This raises future concern on studying the subject. This situation necessitates the need to empirically investigate attrition rates to the subject, especially studying it as a subject at the Secondary School level.. This is the gap which this research intends to fill. The research made use of descriptive and survey methods for the inquiry. The survey technique adopted includes the questionnaire which was designed by the researcher for data collection. Mean was used to analyze the data obtained. Criterion mean of 2.50 was raised by adding the assigned values of responses and dividing it with the total number of the responses options which is the summation of 4+3+2+1=10/4=2.50. Therefore, any score below 2.50 was rejected while 2.50 and above was accepted. The population for the study comprises of One hundred students (100) from different Secondary schools in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo state. The Findings from the research revealed that the causes of Attrition rate towards studying Christian Religious Studies in Secondary School is due to lack of interest on the part of the students, poor teaching methodology used by teachers and Inadequate school facilities and instructional materials. Therefore, the researcher recommends that Christian Religious Studies as a subject should be made compulsory in Secondary schools, the students should be motivated and encouraged by the government and teachers to develop interest in the subject, Systematic and proper structuring of curriculum, Utilization of innovative teaching method and a combination of different teaching methods can improve Student's interest towards the study of Christian Religious Studies. KEYWORDS: Attitudes, Students, Secondary, School, Christian.