EMPERICAL ANALYSIS OF EFFECT OF SECRET CULT INVOLVEMENT AND ITS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN NIGERIA TERTIARY INSTITUTION

ABSTRACT
This project give an empirical analysis on the effect of secret cult involvement and its academic performance in Nigeria tertiary institution a case study of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi. The objective of the study are to seek practical solutions to the problem of cultism in Auchi polytechnic, to plant the seeds of ethical values in the fertile minds of students as important ingredient for enduring political, social and economic progress, to renew faith in Educational institutions as places where basic values are communicated, to promote the ethics, integrity and credibility of cultism. For the purpose of this research work, the sample size drawn out of the population is made up of 20 lecturers, 50 males and 50 female students which in total sum up to be 120. The students in the sample have studied for at least two years in the polytechnic and have gotten information about ICT. The study recommended that Emphasis should be placed on moral instructions and value re-orientation in our institutions to combat cultism, student should be taught the virtues of hard work, honesty and the dignity of labour and guidance and counseling services should be adopted in institutions so as to reduce cases of cultism.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Research on cultism has long being the interest of educational sociologists and psychologists experts. An examination of AUCHI POLYTECHNIC today would reveal the use of dangerous weapons, sexual harassment, dwindling in the standard of the undergraduate uncommitted and less dedicated lecturers to mention few. Abdulkareem, ( 2003) reported that the problem of secret cult with its associated problem like killing, extortion, rape, maiming, stealing and other social vices in our tertiary institutions have permanently imprinted the issue in the mind of the average Nigeria. Abdulkareem, ( 2003) pointed out that many members of the society including the high placed one tend not to worry about these two pathogenic and virulent school diseases and so on.

The question is, if education is regarded as the process by which the new members of the society are equipped with acceptable skills, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, moral and values of the society then what model of moral standard are we inculcating through the process of education? Agbo (2008) reported that Cultism on campus emerged as a result of social unacceptable behaviour of media explosion, importation of foreign culture, the internet and junk magazine inclusive which overwhelm the Youths so that they fall prey to their effect. In view of this Agbo (2008) asserted that the level of hooliganism among the students of tertiary institutions has risen very highly. It is a common phenomenon to see our students (male and female) conducting themselves in manner not different from what tout do. In the same vein.

Agbo (2008) opined that secret cult menace in our universities might not be unconnected with drug which some students use. Afigbo (1996) in his thesis reported that aggression has the second high effect on cult membership. Direct effect 4.33% of the total effect, indirect 0.24% of the total effect. Thus, aggression account for 0.5% of the total effect of cult membership. On this note,
Agbo (2008) explains that the view that aggression or violence is mindless, random, or inexplicable, has been seriously questioned. Two alternatives but opposed conceptions of human aggression have been offered instead, one suggests that human violence is based on evolutionary mechanism for regulating social conduct. The other proposes that human societies impose stresses which in turn produce aggression as an abnormal response.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Education if properly earned, brings about development of character and contributes meaningfully to the society, but in our schools today, people no longer submit to rules that guide leaning and conduct of examination, therefore, examination malpractice has made nonsense of our education system. This is why in this project work, I am interested in the causes i.e the reasons behind people getting involved in examination malpractice So as to create a lasting solution to the problem.