BANDITRY AND KIDNAPPING AS PREDICTORS OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined banditry and kidnapping as predictors of secondary school students’ academic achievement in Katsina State, Nigeria. A correlational research design was adopted. The population comprised 28,456 students, from whom a sample of 384 was selected using multistage sampling. Data were collected with a researcher-developed questionnaire, the Banditry, Kidnapping and Academic Achievement Questionnaire (BKAAQ). Experts in Educational Measurement and Evaluation validated the instrument, which had a Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of 0.84. Data were analysed using means, standard deviations and multiple regression at the 0.05 significance level. Banditry significantly and negatively predicted students’ academic achievement (β = −0.487, t = −10.346, p < .05), as did kidnapping (β = −0.431, t = −8.892, p < .05). Together, the two predictors were significantly associated with academic achievement, R = .592, R² = .350, F(2, 381) = 102.58, p < .05. The study concluded that banditry and kidnapping were associated with lower academic achievement, potentially through disruption to teaching and learning, absenteeism, psychological distress and reduced access to educational opportunities. It recommends strengthening school security, implementing safe-school initiatives and providing psychosocial support for affected students.