FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH STUDENTS’ PARTICIPATION IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KANKE LGA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the Study

 Kanke Local Government Area is roughly located in central Plateau State of Nigeria. Carved out of Pankshin Local Government Area along side three [3] others; Mikang, Riyom and Jos East Local Government Areas in Plateau State, in October, 1996. The headquarters of  Kanke Local Government Area is Kwal, about eighteen [18] kilometers from Pankshin Local Government Area and about 138 kilometers from Jos the Plateau State capital. Kanke Local Government Area is bounded to the North by Tafawa-Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, to the East by Kanam Local Government Area, to the South by Pankshin and Langtang North Local Government Areas and to the West by Pankshin Local Government Area. [See photo gallery in Appendix IV and V]

            Kanke Local Government Area has four [4] Districts which include;

1. Ampang East District
2. Amper District
3. Garram District
4. Kabwir District

            The Local Government Area has a total land mass of approximately 1, 000 square kilometers [926km2] and a population of one hundred and twenty one thousand four hundred and twenty four [121, 424] people. [FGN, 2007] The Local Government has one hundred and ninety five [195] communities.

            The study area is predominantly by Ngas speaking people constituting 94% of the total population while other tribe such as Taroh [Yargam] 2%, Hausa/Fulani 2%, Sayawa from Bauchi State [Tafawa-Balewa LGA] 1% while Igbo and others constituting the remaining 1% [FGN, 2007]

            The occupation and socio-economic activities of the people is predominantly farming and hunting. The area of the study experienced two [2] seasons. Dry and wet seasons and starts from mid October to mid April [Dry season] whilst the wet season starts from mid April to mid October. The predominantly vegetation of the area is Guinea Savannah the vegetation has to a large extend resulted in extensive agriculture use of land. The vegetation is characterized by mixed tree [short and tall] and mixed grasses [short and tall] among the common trees available in the area are locus beans, mango, orange and cashew. Kanke Local Government Area has, as pointed out above a predominantly, agrarian economy producing crops like millet, sorghum, maize, acha, rice, ground nut, beans, tomatoes pepper among many others which is mainly subsistence with a few of these crops produced in commercial quantity.

            The people are also into animal rearing and other small scale business venture, like carpentry, masonry, tailoring, bricklaying, block industry, building, hairdressing and barbing salon, motor mechanic, welding, shoe repairs among many others socio-economic activities.

            Tradition and culture of Kanke [Ngas] generally is very rich and their lives are full of cultural festivities for all the seasons in the year. These festivities among others include the famous and popular “Pusdung” celebrated by the entire Ngas Nation, who come from all over the world, dress themselves in traditional attires and engage in their various dances, like minawan, beljep and sombi as well as other masquerading activities. Other festivals include the mos-wong, and mos-tar festivals. The Local Government Area shares a joint traditional council with her sister Local Government Area [Pankshin] with the Ngolong-Ngas as it’s paramount ruler.

            Kanke Local Government Area is one with the most enormous recreational potentials that are yet to be tapped. The undulating plains, rock crates, the rock pedestals as well as escapements remain an in-depth revelation of recreational site yearning for exploration. Others are Kuwang, Ampang District palace, Tom-tom spring water in Garram District, and Man and dog footprint in Ampang and Seri in Amper District. There are road network leading to most of these sites. [See photo gallery in Appendix VI]

            The study is on the Factors Associated with Students Participation in Recreational Activities in Secondary Schools in Kanke LGA of Plateau State. Students in secondary schools who participated in recreational activities during their college years open themselves up to a wide range of life enhancing benefits. Such benefits include discovering ways of coping with stress, creating a sense of accomplishment, finding ways to control body weight and maintaining physical well being, building friendship and close contact, as well as improving various sports skills. [Banta, Bradley and Bryan, 1991] In similar fashion, motivational factors to begin and sustain participation in a recreational school club sport can vary drastically from students to students. However, it is these motivational factors that stimulate a possible beneficial experience of participation in school club recreation. The experience can lead to a multitude of benefits for the participation in school recreational activities. Past research and literature reviews have identified four [4] factors that motivate students to participate in recreational activities, such as school clubs [Beard and Ragheb, 1983].

These factors are: Intellectual, Social, Competence mastery and Stimulus-avoidance.

            Despite an abundance of past research on general campus recreational sport programming and facilities, there is limited research from a student’s perspective regarding motivations to join and actively participate specifically in collegiate sport programms. Motivational factors that influence students to participate in school sports, rather than in intramural or informal sports, could aid the campus recreational sports professional to better cater to the needs of the students in the club sports programme area. Previous research has shown the social and health benefits users of recreation centers gain through participation on an informal basis as well as those students that participate in intramural sports Belch, (2001); Artinger, Clapham, Hunt, Meigs, Milord, Sampson, & Forrester, (2006). State that the motivational factors for students involved in recreation, could be drastically different from those students participating regularly in intramural sports which help to lend credence to pursuing this particular study. Students may also receive different health benefits than those students participating in other recreational areas due to the ongoing format of school sports.

            All of these factors would enhance the recreational programms as a whole.

• Statement of the Problem

The problem of the study was to examine Factors Associated with Students Participation in Recreational Activities in Secondary Schools in Kanke LGA of Plateau State.

Secondary school age represent a crucial period of time in one’s life. Life for the students involves not only classroom attendance but also a sound recreational activity. Every school should develop a comprehensive, well- supported programme of intramural recreational activity that will serve and benefit all students. The programme  will serves as a platform for mental, social and emotional adjustment [greater social integration and satisfaction]

However, many secondary schools do not have a well supported programme of recreational activities and those who have, the facilities and equipment are in shamble thereby lowering the interest level of students participation.

Therefore, this study attempted to examine the factors associated with students participation in recreational activities in secondary schools in Kanke LGA.

• Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the study was to examine the factors associated with students participation in recreational activities in secondary schools in Kanke LGA of Plateau State.

Specifically, the study intends to examine the following objectives:

1. To determine the level of knowledge of recreational activities of the students.
2. To identify the recreational facilities that are available to students in the schools.
3. To determine the frequency of participation in recreational activities by the male students.
4. To determine the frequency of participation in recreational activities by the female students.
5. To determine the level of interest of the male students in recreational activities.
6. To determine the level of interest of the female students in recreational activities.
7. To determine the benefits of participation in recreational activities to the students.
8. To identify the major factors militating against students participation in recreational activities in secondary schools.
9. To suggest ways by which participation in recreational activities of the students could be enhanced.
   • Research Questions

The following research questions were raised to guide the study.

1. What is the student’s level of knowledge of recreational activities?
2. Which are the recreational facilities that are available to students in the schools?
3. What is the frequency of the male student’s participation in recreational activities in schools?
4. What is the frequency of female student’s participation in recreational activities in schools?
5. What is the level of interest of the male students in recreational activities in schools?
6. What is the level of interest of the female students in recreational activities in schools?
7. What are the benefits of participation in recreational activities in the schools?
8. What are the major factors militating against students participation in recreational activities in schools?
9. How can student’s participation in recreational activities be enhanced?
   • Hypotheses

For the purpose of this study, the following hypotheses were formulated and tested.

1. Sex has no significant influence on the level of interest in recreational activities among secondary schools students in Kanke LGA of Plateau State.
2. There is no significant influence in the frequency of participation in recreational activities between the senior and junior secondary schools students in Kanke LGA of Plateau State.
   • Significance of the Study

The study intended to create better understanding and of the importance of participation in recreational activities. The study contains the value of recreational activities participation to secondary school students and teachers alike, community people, physical and health education department, ministry of education, Government and the larger society as a whole.

Thus, the study will generate data on Factors Associated with Students Participation in Recreational Activities in Secondary Schools in Kanke LGA of Plateau State. The data obtained will be useful to Government and ministry of education as it will alert the ministry on more findings of participation in recreational activities in respect to their dissatisfaction which can lead or result to poor learning ability, performance will be low in examination, lack of skills and techniques that are required from them.

This study will help to form the basic platform for evaluation of secondary schools students who participate in recreational activities, parents and community members will have the opportunity to benefit from the study and also to know the importance attached to participation in recreational activities. Furthermore, the study will help schools, ministry of education and Government to device a means for proper and adequate recreational facilities and equipment for school children as it has health related benefits which is the bases for healthy living.

The study will further generate data that will be useful to physical and health education researchers as it will serve as a reference material to them at all time.

• Delimitation of the Study

The scope or extent of coverage of this study was restricted or limited to Kanke LGA [Ampang East,  Amper,  Garram and Kabwir] Districts.

Thus, the study is delimited to investigate, the factors associated with students participation in recreational activities in Government and private secondary schools in the four [4] Districts of Kanke LGA of Plateau State.

• Operational Definition of Terms

The researcher will like to define the following terms:

Factors: One of several things, fact, situation which cause or influences the result of something.

Associated: This is to make a conceptual connection between two or more variables.

Participation: When someone takes part or become involve in an activity or something.

Recreational: Activity that is carried out during leisure time which refreshes people after work. It is a way in which people enjoy themselves when they are not working.

Activities: Involving events for enjoyment especially an organized one [event].

Secondary: Relating to education of children of approximately between the ages of 11 and 18 years old.

School: A place where children go to be educated.

Students: A person or group of young people who are learning at a school or college and university.