LECTURERS’ ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES EDUCATION ON MORAL DEVELOPMENT AMONG UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN UNDERGRADUATES

Abstract

Religious Studies education (RSE) has emerged to inculcate sound religious and moral values among students. However, the rate of moral decadence among undergraduates has reached an alarming rate in Nigeria. This study, therefore, examined lecturers’ assessment of the impact of RSE on moral development of university of Ilorin undergraduates. Specifically, the study investigated the differences in the lecturers’ assessment based on gender and teaching experience. The descriptive study consisted of a sample of 150 lecturers. A researcher designed questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.82 was used for the data collection. Data obtained were analysed using mean, rank order, the t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that RSE foster peace and unity among undergraduates. Also, there was no statistically significant difference in the lecturers’ assessment based on gender and teaching experience. The study concluded that RSE is crucial in making undergraduates exhibit sound moral and social behaviours. It was therefore, recommended that RSE should be promoted in the universities and other tertiary institutions, also it should be made a required course for all undergraduates so as to inculcate moral values among students.