CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL ISSUES AND PROBLEMS

CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL ISSUES AND PROBLEMS
Contemporary social issues are recurrent problematic behaviours which are prevalent in recent times in our societies. They are issues and problems which are not common or pronounced in our societies many years ago. They are issues or problems which occur as a result of civilization, technology advancement and negative effects of global economic meltdown.
These issues and problems must be identified and addressed for the continuity of peace and development of our societies.
Among such social issues and problems are:
Examination malpractice
Cultism
HIV/AIDS
Human/drug trafficking
Electoral malpractice
Kidnapping
Armed robbery
Juvenile delinquency
Prostitution
Religious and ethnic conflicts
Drug addiction
Internet fraud
Corruption

EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE
This simply means the use of illegal methods by students to pass examinations and acquire certificates. Examination malpractice include acts such as bringing of textbooks or written materials into examination hall for the purpose of answering questions. Others include writing of points on palms, spying other people’s work during examination, dictation of answers by invigilator or fellow students etc.
CAUSES OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE
LAZINESS: Many students are very lazy to study yet they want to pass. This forces them to device other means of getting materials to pass the examination.
LOVE OF PLEASURE: Many students have no time to study but have time to watch television, browse the internet, listen to music, attending parties etc instead of studying for their examinations.
LAZINESS AND INCOMPETENCE OF TEACHERS: Some teachers are so lazy in teaching their students. Some teachers are incompetent and unqualified to teach the subject. Such teachers will not be able to prepare the students adequately for the examinations.
INADEQUATE FACILITIES IN SCHOOLS: Many schools do not have hall or laboratory big enough for examination purposes. Students are crammed into a small place which is not conducive for a credible examination. This gives room for spying, sharing of ideas, exchange of textbooks in the examination.
ACTIVITIES OF CORRUPT SCHOOL OWNERS: Some school owners and principals aid examination malpractice so that their schools can be known for having good results and therefore have more population. Most them collect extra fees from candidates to bribe examination officials in order to have their way to cheating.
PARENTAL INFLUENCE: Many parents also aid examination malpractice in so many ways. Some parents hiring other people to write examinations for their children or getting ‘’EXPO’’ for their children before the examination.

EFFECTS OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE
Fall in standard of education
Breeding of incompetent professionals
Loss of confidence in public examinations
Discouraging diligence and hardworking students
Increase in corruption.

SOLUTIONS TO EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE
Provision of more facilities in schools.
Diligent and hardworking students should be rewarded.
Stiff punishment for the offenders.
Schools that perpetrate examination malpractice should be sanctioned or closed.
Examination bodies conducting external examinations should hire responsible and honest people as supervisors.

CULTISM
The origin of cultism in Nigeria is traceable to the pirate confraternity founded by Prof. Wole Soyinka at University College now University of Ibadan, Ibadan in 1953, though with very good intension of ending tribalism and colonial mentality in Nigeria.
Secret cult is an enclosed organized association or group of people devoted to the same cause.
CULTISM is defined as the practices of a cult whose beliefs or rituals are known only to the inner caucus members.
CAUSES OF CULTISM
CRAVE FOR POWER: Many youths join cult just for the sake of having some power. They want to be feared by lecturers and fellow students.
SEARCH FOR LOVE: Some youths join cult in search of basic need of life and feeling of belonging. They want to be with people they can share their minds with.
SEARCH FOR SECURITY: MANY YOUTHS BECOME CULT MEMBERS BECAUSE THEY FEEL IT WILL GIVE THEM PEACE AND PROTECTION FROM EVERY FORM OF HARASSMENT PARTICULARLY FROM LECTURERS.
PEER GROUP INFLUENCE: Some youths are influence by their peer gropus to be cult members. They may be persuaded by intimate friends who they feel must be respected and obeyed.
EFFECTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF CULTISM IN SCHOOLS.
Problem of maintaining discipline
Break down of law and order
Fall in standard of education.
Abuse of others rights.
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEM OF CULTISM IN SCHOOLS
Enlightenment campaigns on the danger of cultism.
Parents should give more time to proper upbringing of their children at early age.
Religious groups should help to teach morals among youths.

   ASSGNMENT: write short note on HIV/AIDS.