ABSTRACT
The study examined the influence of violent demonstrations on academic performance in senior high schools, using TI Ahmadiyya Senior High School as a case study. The study was descriptive using a sample size of 210 respondents comprising staff, parents and students. Data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed using the SPSS. The study identified the following as factors contributing to violent demonstrations in senior high schools: Inadequate infrastructure, Inadequate teachers, Drug and substance abuse, Inadequate feeding, Lack of effective teaching, Poor leadership, Excessive use of corporal punishment, Abdication of parental responsibility, Adolescent identity crisis, Culture of impunity in the society, and Student electoral system. The study observed that the most likely effect of demonstrations is the destruction to school property. Other significant effects include the loss of study time and school closure. The study found that violent demonstrations results in inability to complete entire syllabus resulting in poor performance, increased examination malpractice, and need to rely on extra tuition creating extra cost. The study identified the following as measures to prevent demonstrations in senior high schools: adequate infrastructure, adequate teaching and learning materials, Improved teacher-student ratio, Reviewing curriculum to address overload, Improved quality of feeding, Incorporating specialization and balanced curriculum, Strengthening guidance and counseling, Regular forums to have students’ views heard, School management system should be participatory, and Effective parental guidance. Key recommendations included the need for functioning counseling units in senior high schools to help address student challenges before they get uncontrollable.
