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Attitudes Of Undergraduate Youths Toward Democratic Values:Â Implication For Social Studies
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Youths
acquire the status of citizenship in any particular society after
undergoing certain psychological awareness and social training as well
as some specific skills (Aghayere in Iyoha, et al, 2003). The age at
which such is reached varies from society to society. But subscribing
to the argument of Agbebaku and Agbebaku(2007) that, “youths in Nigeria
are people normally between the ages of 18 to 45 yearsâ€. Their reason
for the choices of 18 as the lower age was derived from the fact that
the 1999 constitution of Nigeria sets that mark as the minimum
acceptable voting age for Nigerians. And that of 45; it is the peak
where people still demonstrate youthfulness and energy for civic
activities. Therefore, for the purpose of this study, Nigerian
undergraduate youths will mean persons between the ages of 18 and 45
years who are currently undergoing their first degree programmes in any
Nigerian universities.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
This study
was undertaken to investigate the perception of Nigerian youths of
democratic values. From experience with youths during elections and
civic activities, the extent to which youths are aware of, understand
and/or have internalized these values is not certain. This has serious
implication for social studies education, our democracy and the Nigerian
nation as a whole. Thus, there is apprehension when one takes a
cursory look at the undemocratic attitudes, level of incivility
prevalence among our youths and the ultimate manifestation of negative
behaviours such as electoral rigging; kidnapping/killing of political
opponents; writing or sponsoring the publications of damaging articles
in our media; tearing, removal or defacing of posters belonging to
political opponents/parties; youths enlisting into various cult groups
to be used as party kingpins/political thugs; the general
apathy/indifference of many youths to elections and democratic process;
youths mortgaging their conscience after being induced with meagre
amount of money or materials like face-caps, T-shirts, umbrellas etc to
support the wrong candidates/parties knowing full well they have no
political will and the reputation to deliver on electoral promises and
thereafter put their future in jeopardy and perpetual wants. The end
result is bad leadership/government, high number of electoral cases in
court, lack of basic infrastructure, unemployment, and
underdevelopment. Recently, the National Orientation Agencies has
embarked on mass mobilization to raise people’s awareness of democratic
values in the country. Even at that, what can we say about the present
perception of Nigerian youths of democratic values? How much do social
studies have to offer in promoting these values in the youths?
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are;
1.
To ascertain the extent to which they are aware, understand, and have
imbibed the democratic values that guide Nigerian democratic process
2.
To ascertain the extent to which democratic values regulate our youths
as participants in the various democratic processes.
3. To find
out the attitude of youths toward the virtues of respect and tolerance
while indulging in/carrying out political activities
4. To find out the attitude of youths toward the virtues of honesty and patriotism while discharging their civic duties
5. To find out the attitude of youths toward transparency and following due process in their civic practices
6. To find out the attitude of youths toward the provision of justice for every citizens in our democracy
7. To find out the attitude of youths toward the principle of one-man-one vote in the political process
1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;
H0: the attitude of youths toward the virtues, respect and tolerance while indulging in political activities is bad
H1: the attitude of youths toward the virtues, respect and tolerance while indulging in political activities is not bad
H02: there is no attitude of youths toward transparency and following due process in their civic practices
H2: there is attitude of youths toward transparency and following due process in their civic practices
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]This research work sought to assess the attitude of undergraduate youths toward democratic values and the implication these would have on social studies education in Nigeria. The youths of Nigeria has been confirmed to form the bulk of the citizens which is the decision making group in the society. The lack of a democratic attitude of mind has been identified as the major obstacle that has mar democratic consolidation in Nigeria. Thus, both elites and youths have been observed to surprisin ... Continue reading---
