Over-valuing unstructured and social networking time: A correlate of students' academic performance in TVET

Abstract

Youth nowadays spend precious amount of their break time involving in unplanned activities at the expense of programmed activities and self-study needed for success and early completion of school programme. 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. the population of 1250 TVET students were targeted. The institutions comprise one university with 950 students and one college of education with 300 students and were all used for the study. Self-assessment Questionnaire titled “Academic Performance and Utilisation of Unstructured Time of Students” (APUUTS) was used to collected data through WhatsApp social media network. The Questionnaire had reliability coefficient of .86 estimated using split-half method and Cronbach’s Alpha reliability 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 one null hypotheses at .05 level of significance. Results revealed 39.90 % of students’ population surf on the internet for less than three hours per day, while, 60.10 % of surf the internet for more than three hours per day. High achievers utilised their break time for academic work. Lack of proper management of unstructured time and social networking negatively impacted 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 purposeful and desirable social skill as modern approach to education for security, economy and education for national development in Nigeria.