Impact of Christian Religious Studies on Students in Institutions of Higher Learning in Enugu State
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are;
- To ascertain the impact of Christian religious studies in tertiary institutions in Enugu state
- to discuss these various impacts in full along with all the sociocultural factors that bring them into being.
- To reconcile the uninformed assumptions about the subject in the educational curriculum.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
CONCEPT OF CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Christian Religious Studies is one of the subjects taught in secondary schools in Nigeria. The teaching of the Christian Religious Studies (CRS) could be dated back as 19th century with the pioneers of Nigerian Education (Banjo, 2003). In attempting to discuss the concept of Christian Religious Studies beneficially, it is imperative, to begin by clarifying various terms with rigour and exactitude to avoid any possible news conceptions in the mind of any reader. The word ‘Christian’ etymologically comes from this Greek words ‘Christian’ and Christos; meaning “follower of Christ” and anointed one”, it is used three times in the New testament of the Bible (Act11:28, 1 Peter 4:16). The Bible tells us “it was in Antioch of Syria that the followers of Jesus were first called “Christian”. The question that borders the mind of the reader, which the researchers consider in this definition process, is ‘who is a Christian? The answer to this question can be formulated only in a cumulative fashion. Thus a Christian is a social human person in whom God is present in grace but who is at, same time, prone to act against the, divine preference. Isreal (2011) states that a Christian is one who professes and belief in Jesus Christ or fellows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Anole added that a Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity and Abraham, monotheistic religion based on the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth, who Christian belief is the Messiah. Okoro (2010) opines that a Christian is a particular kind of human being, not in the sense that a Christian has a different biological or psychic structure, but in the sense that a Christian has moved to a different level of human consciousness. Anih (2010) equally state that a Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ, that a person who believes and practices the tenets of the Christian faith in the Holy Scripture (Bible). However, in the context of this study, a Christian is referred to as students who practice Christianity and learn it in school as one of a religion in the world. Religion in the other way has been heated with lots of debate about the meaning and its practices in human society. Its etymology can help to define the concept. Religion is derived the Latin noun ‘religio’, but with some ambiguities arising from these different verbs that are allied with the noun –‘religion’ [to turn constantly” or to observe conscientiously”] ‘religari [to bind on self] (back) and ‘religere’ (“to choose again”) (Okoro, 2010). Each of these verbs according to Okoro points to three possible religious attitudes. Though it is not clear from which verb the noun is derived, each of the verbs is consistent with the view that religion “a relation to God.” McBrien in Okoro (2010) says that religion thus has to do with the whole human existence, and not merely with some special sector of it.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to the impact of Christian religious studies on students in institutions of higher learning in Enugu state
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information the impact of Christian religious studies on students in institutions of higher learning in Enugu state. 200 staff of selected tertiary institutions, Enugu State was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected from the respondents were analyzed in tabular form with simple percentage for easy understanding.
A total of 133(one hundred and thirty three) questionnaires were distributed and 133 questionnaires were returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain impact of Christian religious studies on students in institutions of higher learning in Enugu state
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of Christian religious studies on students in institutions of higher learning in Enugu state
Summary
This study was impact of Christian religious studies on students in institutions of higher learning in Enugu state. Three objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the impact of Christian religious studies in tertiary institutions in Enugu state, to discuss these various impacts in full along with all the sociocultural factors that bring them into being and to reconcile the uninformed assumptions about the subject in the educational curriculum. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 staff of selected tertiary institution, Enugu State. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made principals, vice principals administration, senior staff and junior staff were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
This study revealed that Christian Religious Knowledge is one of the oldest school subjects in Nigeria. The subject aims at inculcating in the learners some cherished values in the society. Among other things, the conventional teaching method adopted by secondary school teachers has hindered the acquisition and demonstration of expected values by the learners. Values clarification, collaborative and involvement in informal school clubs can help learners to develop and manifest values like honesty, respect, trust, obedience and forgiveness.
Recommendation
In line with the implication of the findings of the study, the following recommendations were made by the researcher:
- As the use of role-play method of CRS teaching has been found to be effective in promoting achievement and interest of students in CRS and since research evidence has shown that it is rarely used by the teachers in classes, students should be expose to the use of role-play in learning of CRS
- Government agencies and professional bodies whose responsibility is to design and revise curriculum for secondary schools should incorporate and emphasize the use of role-play method in teaching of CRS
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