RELIGIOUS STUDIES EDUCATORS’ PERCEIVED CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OFRELIGIOUS VIOLENCE AMONG PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ILORIN METROPOLIS
Keywords:
Islamic studies, Christian Religious studies, Hijab and violenceAbstract
This study examined the Religious studies educators’ perceived causes and consequences of religious violence
among public secondary schools in Ilorin metropolis. Simple Random sampling technique was used to select 56
out of 115teachers of Religious Studies as sample for this study while purposive sampling technique was used to
select 10 public junior secondary schools in Ilorin metropolis. A researchers-designed questionnaire was used
to gather data from the respondents. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire developed by
the researcher and was validated by the three experts in Test & Measurement and found it appropriate for this
study. The reliability of the instrument was determined using the test re-test reliability technique within a two
week interval. The scores of the two tests were correlated using the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation
(PPMC). The value of the correlation coefficient obtained was 0.87. Three research questions were raised and
analysed using the percentage. The findings revealed that hijab, Muslim students’ society of Nigeria, Christian
fellowship organisation, government policies and school administrators are factors that usually cause the
religious violence among public schools in Ilorin metropolis. The study concluded that any act of promoting the
flames of sectarian violence should be totally rejected and teachers, students, parents and government should
join hands together in mediating peace agreements and promote non-violence. Also, the study recommended
that government should organise religious dialogue among the adherents of different religions (thoughts). This
would help to promote peace and address any matters that can cause violence and misunderstandings without
exposing the public to dangers.