AN ANALYSIS OF THE CAUSES AND REMEDIES FOR STUDENT UNREST IN RIVERS STATE

ABSTRACT: The primary objective of this research endeavour was to examine the underlying causes and propose potential solutions to the issue of student unrest in the Port-Harcourt metropolis. The study involved a sample of 200 respondents. The data was analysed using the t-test statistical methods. All of the hypotheses were tested at a significance level of 0.05. The study findings indicate that there is no statistically significant variation in the perspectives expressed by participants across different age groups, genders, religious affiliations, and social statuses regarding both the causes and proposed solutions. However, there were notable variations in the perspectives shared by the participants, depending on the type of institution, regarding both the underlying factors and proposed remedies. Based on the aforementioned findings, several recommendations were proposed, emphasising the crucial importance of involving students in decision-making processes that directly impact their educational achievements. The significance of the findings for counselling students facing distressing situations was emphasised.

Background Of The Study: A higher institution refers to the educational institution that an individual enrols in following the completion of their secondary school education. The pinnacle form of education is characterised by the opportunity for individuals to select their own job paths. According to Olaitan (2004), the educational landscape in Nigeria is comprised of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Among these three options, university education is considered the highest type of postsecondary education. According to Aguba (2006), the establishment of tertiary institutions in Nigeria can be traced back to 1932 with the founding of University College Ibadan and University of Nigeria Nsukka. These universities served as pivotal institutions and were highly esteemed by both students and the nation as a whole, owing to the high standards and respect accorded to their students. Subsequently, the academic sessions were offered without charge, devoid of any instances of strikes, riots, demonstrations, or similar occurrences.

The decline in standards commenced in 1944, coinciding with the initial instance of student unrest in Nigeria. The unrest was instigated by the students of King's College Ikeja, located in Lagos, who protested against the British authorities' intention to utilise the college as a facility for accommodating the West African Frontier Force, which was mobilised from their colonies in West Africa to contribute to the war efforts during the Second World War. The individuals that spearheaded the uprising were the deceased Chief Col. Chukwuemeka Odunegwu Ojukwu (retired), the deceased Chief A. Y. Eke, the deceased Chief Olu Akinfosile, and the deceased Chief Victor Orie-Whitey.

In 1953, a significant development occurred when Professor Wole Soyinka established a secret cult known as the Pyrates Confraternity, initially referred to as the Magnificent Seven, at the University College Ibadan (UCI), presently recognised as Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. This organisation was established with the objectives of challenging established norms, revitalising the principles of chivalry, eradicating tribalism and elitism, and highlighting the irrationality of the colonial mindset among post-independence students.

The prevalence of student discontent has become a significant issue inside the Nigerian educational system during the 21st century. According to Adebayor (2008), the phase of a child's life spent in higher education is characterised by increased levels of stress and excessive energy within the family unit. The prescribed period for a course, typically four years, is often extended by an additional year or two, thereby deviating from the originally allowed timeframe.

According to the Cambridge International Dictionary of England (2005), student unrest refers to the occurrence of disagreements or conflicts among various factions of students. Additionally, it can be stated that students' unrest is characterised as a condition of disruption wherein students exhibit anger or engage in violent activity as a means of expressing their dissatisfaction or opposition towards a certain issue. According to Hornby (1996), students' unrest can be characterised as a condition of disruption in which students experience feelings of anger or dissatisfaction, potentially leading to acts of unrest or conflict. Educational academics employ five distinct categories to denote instances of student disturbance, namely students' unrest, students' rampage, students' violence, and students' cultism.

The causes of student unrest have been attributed to various elements, with educational academics offering differing perspectives on these issues.

Okeen (1997) opted to address the topic from multiple dimensions. The speaker asserted that the topic possesses both international and national/social dimensions, as well as unique considerations at the institutional and individual levels. According to Yalokwu (1992), the factors contributing to student unrest encompass religious intolerance, unemployment among graduates, incidents of violence against students in rural areas, insufficient parental guidance, inadequate infrastructure and facilities in educational institutions, limited transportation options for students, breakdown in communication between authorities and students, academic stress experienced by students, high rates of course failures, prohibition of student union a Other scholars have posited that various factors contribute to student unrest in Nigeria, including socio-personal, educational, and vocational pressures, involvement in cultism, strict regulations, insufficient infrastructure, communication barriers, individual indiscipline, student politics, intimidation by both staff and fellow students, external influences, and familial influences.

According to Akagu (1995), the agitation among students has resulted in detrimental effects on our educational system. Furthermore, the aforementioned issue has also resulted in the lack of recognition of degrees from certain Nigerian higher education institutions on a global scale. Additionally, it has led to instances of building damage, armed robbery, sexual assault, and various other criminal acts.

In order to contribute to the improvement of Nigeria, the researchers aimed to investigate the impact of student unrest in higher educational institutions and maybe propose solutions. It is noteworthy that student unrest was not originally inherent to the early stages of higher education in Nigeria.