Over-Valuing Unstructured and Social Networking Time: A Correlate of Students’ Academic Performance in TVET

Abstract

Youth nowadays spend precious time either consciously or subconsciously involving in unplanned activities at the expense of programmed activities and self-study needed for success and early completion of school. This study examines the effects of valuing unstructured time and social skills by students of tertiary level on their academic performances. The study was carried out in tertiary institutions in Niger state. Purposive sampling technique was used to select two institutions that run TVET programmes with a population of 1250 TVET students. The institutions comprise one university with 950 students and one college of education with 300 students and were all used for the study. Data was collected through WhatsApp social media network using a researcher-designed instrument titled “Self-assessment Questionnaire on Academic Performance and the Utilisation of Unstructured Time and Social Networking Time of Students” (APUUSNTS). The Questionnaire had reliability coefficient of .86 estimated using split-half method and Chromback’s Alpha Statistics.609 students responded to the Questionnaire and were used for the study. Data collected were subjected to percentages, mean and chi-squire test of independence. Percentages and the mean were used to answer the research questions while the chi-squire test was used to test two null hypotheses at .05 level of significance. Results shows that 39.90% of students’ population surf on the internet for less than three hours per day, while, 60.10% surf the internet for more than three hours per day. High achievement students utilize part of their break time for academic work. Over valuing unstructured time and social networking influences the academic performance of TVET students. Gender does not influence the academic performance of students. The study recommended that teachers should subject students to assignments that will make them to explore the internet in order to change their mind sets to a more creative, desirable social skill as modern approach to education for security, economy and education for national development in Nigeria.