THE EXTENT OF INTAKE OF ALCOHOL ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA

THE EXTENT OF INTAKE OF ALCOHOL ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT 

CHAPITER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 THE STUDY’S BACKGROUND

Alcohol usage has socioeconomic and sociocultural repercussions for people in society, especially students, according to (Adeyemo, 2007). It is presented and utilized during rituals, vows, celebrations, and other fun occasions. Early on, throughout the colonial era, it served as a sign of adoration and respect. In the south-east, palm-wine made from oil-palm trees and raffia-palms was a preferred alcoholic beverage. According to Okonkwo (2018), interactions between Europeans and the indigenous people of eastern Nigeria began in the fourteenth century, particularly during the Atlantic slave trade era, and were primarily focused on introducing alcoholic beverages like gin and tonic and whiskey.

The excessive consumption of liquids produced by the fermentation of sugar, such as beer, whiskey, dry gin, and palm win, that modify the body system or worsen an individual’s health is referred to as alcohol intake in this study. The excessive consumption of liquids produced by the fermentation of sugar, such as beer, whiskey, dry gin, and palm win, that modify the body system is referred to as alcohol intake in this study (Adeyemo, 2007).

Heavy drinking may be associated with postsecondary students’ low academic performance, according to Awoyinfa (2012). Undergraduate students may be seen drinking alcohol in pubs, restaurants, and other isolated locations a short distance from their place of study in Nigeria due to the spread of this habit there. Some of these kids stay at these places all day, arriving home only after school. For Nigerian students, the future leaders of their country, alcohol misuse—defined in the context of this study as the use of four or more alcoholic beverages per day—has a wide range of negative social and health effects. Alcohol abuse is linked to students skipping class, failing exams, dropping out due to poor grades, and endangering academic missions of institutions and universities (Awoyinfa, 2012). The intellectual vision of colleges and universities is shortened by alcohol consumption, which could compromise their mission of creating future leaders. Binge drinking can have a detrimental effect on a school’s overall academic performance. Because drinking alcohol negatively affects people’s physical, social, psychological, and economic results, it is a significant public health concern. Students have particular difficulties in higher education, and some turn to alcohol to cope with these issues (Awoyinfa, 2012).

Between the ages of 18 and 29, which is also the age range of the majority of university students, are those who suffer from alcohol disorders the most. It is true that heavy drinking among students at higher institutions has been extensively documented, and many students start drinking heavily for the first time during their first year of college. University students were more likely to engage in excessive episodic drinking and were more likely to have drinking issues or experience consequences as a result of their behavior. Academic achievement is a significant element in student drinking since many students find university education challenging (Adeyemo, 2007).

In educational institutions, academic success is used to gauge success. Parents and employers are becoming increasingly aware of the value of pupils performing well in school as career competition in the industry heats up. Education is not the only route to professional achievement; schools make great efforts to measure, analyze, and motivate students’ development. Because they think that achieving high academic standards will result in better employment prospects and job security, parents are anxious about their children’s academic success. The goal of education is academic achievement, sometimes known as (academic) performance. There is no broad agreement on how academic accomplishment should be evaluated or if elements of procedural knowledge, such as skills, or declarative information, such as facts, are more important. Academic achievement is usually measured through examinations or continuous evaluation. The academic progress and learning outcomes of students are influenced by a variety of factors, including gender, age, the teaching staff, the students’ educational background, the father’s or guardian’s socioeconomic status, what they consume, where they live, the school’s medium of instruction, the tuition trend, the daily study hour, and whether they are housed in hostels or are day scholars.

Alcohol consumption has a negative effect on some kids and their families by raising the risk of dropouts and academic failure. On the other hand, some students are aware of how to balance their social and academic life without suffering academically (Odejide, & Ohaeri, 1994).

SITUATION OF THE PROBLEM

According to (Adeyemo, 2007), university administrators and officials are worried about the association between problematic alcohol use and subpar academic performance. Heavy drinking has been suggested as a potential factor in student dropout, and alcohol usage has been associated with subpar academic performance. Drinking causes several problems for college students, including missing classes and performing poorly in class. Heavy episodic drinkers are substantially more likely to blame their drinking for missing class, falling behind on their homework, and performing poorly on tests or other academic assignments than non-heavy drinkers.

Heavy drinkers may have elevated blood alcohol levels the next day, which may influence their ability to concentrate in class and, if they do, how well they absorb and ultimately store knowledge. The common practice of sleeping off after a buzz, however, may disturb the sleep cycle, leading to increased anxiety, jitteriness, and irritability the next day as well as weariness. Although most people believe that drinking makes it harder to remember things that happened when they were buzzed, drinking has significant negative effects on memory and learning. There can be a direct link between academic success and problem drinking in specific situations. Young people’s biological development, intellectual performance, and behavior can all be impacted by drinking. Adolescents who drink excessively can suffer major neurological effects (Odejide & Ohaeri, 1994).

Students who abuse alcohol experience physical and psychological effects because it affects their cognitive capacities, which are impaired by even small amounts of alcohol and can persist for a long time after the acute symptoms of alcohol impairment have subsided. Alcohol, for instance, might affect memory by slowing down information transmission and synchronization and lowering students’ ability to recall knowledge learned before to going out for drinks (Presley et al., 1996).

1.3 STUDY’S OBJECTIVES

This study’s main goal is to determine how much alcohol consumption affects students’ academic performance in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The following are additional study goals:

i. To ascertain the connection between alcohol consumption and academic success

ii. To identify the causes of alcohol consumption in tertiary institution students.

iii. To investigate the impact of excessive alcohol use on university students’ academic performance.

1.4 QUESTIONS FOR RESEARCH

This study will be guided by the following research questions.

i. What is the connection between alcohol consumption and academic success?

What are the elements that lead to alcohol consumption among college students?

What impact does excessive alcohol use have on students’ academic success at postsecondary institutions?

1.5 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER STUDIES

The results of this study, which will demonstrate how drinking affects students’ academic performance, will be helpful to university authorities in developing appropriate strategies to address this problem. Students will also profit from this study because it will demonstrate the negative impacts of binge drinking.

Finally, this study will be important to academics because it will act as a current source for future research and references.

1.6 THE STUDY’S SCOPE

The extent to which alcohol use affects students’ academic achievement in tertiary institutions in Nigeria will be the main topic of this study. The reasons of alcohol consumption among tertiary students and its effects on academic performance will be further examined. Participants in this study are University of Jos students from Plateau State.

Limitations of the study: 1.7

The impact of alcohol use on students’ academic achievement in tertiary institutions is the only topic covered in this study. The origins and consequences of alcohol on pupils’ academic achievement in Nigeria will be examined. It won’t examine the problems, hence it won’t be suggesting answers.

Because this study is restricted to the University of Jos, its conclusions cannot be applied elsewhere until more research has been done.

1.8 TERM DEFINITION

Extent: the area something covers

Alcohol is a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid that is created naturally when sugars are fermented. It is the intoxicating component of wine, beer, spirits, and other alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is also employed as a fuel and an industrial solvent.

Academic achievement is the term used to describe academic outcomes that show how well a student has met their learning objectives.