Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of citizenship education on students; moral and academic achievement in secondary schools in the Buea Municipality. The descriptive method was used with questionnaires as the main instrument.The study shows that some schools are unaware of the fact that citizenship education is an important subject on the moral and academic achievement of students and a means to reduce moral decadence in society.The researcher had research questions and contributions from students of Form 4 in the selected schools of this study through the use of questionnaires. The data collected was analyzed and the researcher had recommendations to students, teachers, administration, government, and parents. The researcher also made suggestions for further studies.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

Citizenship instruction has never been given the emphasis and importance it deserves in secondary schools in Cameroon. In many schools, the subject has never been featured on the timetable and where it has, teachers have tended to use the period for some other subjects. Students too have often looked with contempt on the subject because it has not yet been included in the General Certificate Examination.

This neglect could rightly have been the case. First of all, there were very few text books, inadequate information on the subject. Fortunately of late, the ministry of national education has made available the current syllabus on civic instruction aimed at re-awakening political, social, moral, and intellectual consciousness among secondary school students in Cameroon.

Cameroon in particular has witnessed a tremendous increase in moral decadence, fall in civic rights, decent behavior, and social interaction. According to Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (2007), moral decadence constitutes behavior that shows a fall in moral, social, and intellectual standards and an interest in pleasure, criminality, and bad practice among youth and adults such as embezzlement, tribalism, drug abuse, and corruption.

This moral decadence has led Cameroon society into constant backwardness. It is against this backdrop that citizenship education has been introduced in both primary and secondary schools in Cameroon.

1.2 Background of the Study

According to the American encyclopedia (1968), citizenship is full membership in a nation. The word citizen comes from the Latin word “Civitatis” which means membership of a country and by extension membership of a Nation. Therefore, another mane for citizenship is nationality. Being a citizen of a nation, therefore, means sharing history and a set of beliefs with the rate of the countries citizens.

The Ministry of National Education through circular No 53/D164.MINEDUC/IGP/ESG/IPNGH, of 15th November 1990 changed the subject referred to as civic to citizenship education.

According to Foleng, Ngoly, and Momi (2007), citizenship (Civics) is a term used to express the status of individuals who possess full political rights in a state. The teaching of citizenship in secondary schools will help students know their basic rights and duties for their nation such as the right to vote, respect for authority, and national flag and Anthem.

It also teaches students in our school’s ethical thoughts (the principles of right and wrong, good and bad behaviour) and it inculcates into the student, the sense of being responsible in terms of behavior and character. In our secondary schools in Cameroon, subjects like citizenship education is taught aimed at improving on academic achievement and become responsible citizens in the future which are good for the nation. Thus, this course on citizenship (Civic and Moral Education) is definitely a major step towards the achievement of this goal.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Citizenship education has for long been and is still a major subject in the secondary school curriculum in the French–speaking part of Cameroon. In the 1980s, the Ministry of National Education introduces civic instruction in secondary schools in the English- speaking part of Cameroon.

Due to the rapid increase in moral decadence in Cameroon, curriculum planners and designers have taught it wise to introduce citizenship education into the school curriculum aimed at teaching students lessons on morality.

The teaching of citizenship education in secondary schools is aimed at minimizing moral decadents in the younger generation and improving their academic achievements. This study aims at finding out the extent to which citizenship education has achieved the goals of minimizing moral decadence in secondary schools. Based on the findings, proposals will be made for further improvement.

1.4 Purpose of the Study

The main objective of this study is to assess the impact of citizenship education on student’s moral and academic achievement (case study) at Buea Municipality.

Specific Objectives

The specific objectives of this study aim at the following:

1. To investigate the effectiveness of citizenship education on student’s moral and academic achievement.
2. To evaluate the teaching of citizenship education in secondary school.
3. To find out how effective the teaching of citizenship education has influenced the moral and academic bebaviour of students.