THE ROLE OF CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES IN CURBING MORAL DECADENCE AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OVIA NORTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

This research study investigated the role Christian Religious Studies in curbing moral decadence and character development among senior secondary school students in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. During the course of the research study, four research questions were raised to guide the study. The research method that was used for this research study is the survey research technique. Tables and percentages were used to organize and present the data that was collected during the course of the research. The aim of this study was to show how the teachings of Christian Religious Studies sharpens the character of senior secondary school students and also decrease the degree of moral decadence in school and society at large. In order to figure out these research problems, various methodology was used such as population of the study and sample and sampling techniques and the research instrument used in collecting data were a two structured questionnaire, Section A and Section B.  The first section was organized to obtain the demographic information from the respondents while the second section was designed to get the information of the topics under investigation. The instrument was reviewed and validated by the project supervisor and other experts in the Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin City.  The findings gotten from the research study indicates that Christian Religious Studies plays an important role in curbing moral decadence and developing good character in the life of the students. We also see that the teaching of Christian Religious Studies also influence the community or society positively thereby bringing about a morally upright society. As a result of these findings, certain recommendations were gotten and they includes; Government and relevant stakeholders should provide ways to make students motivated and interested in learning the subject, the subject should be made important to all senior secondary school students, the school should involve the parents and community in Christian Religious Studies initiatives in order to strengthen the impact of Christian Religious Studies in the society taught in school. These are necessary in order to bring about a school and society in general devoid of moral decadence and one of  strong moral principles.