INFLUENCE OF PEER GROUP ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN SOME SELECTED
SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OREDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Peer group can simply be said to be people of the same age and ability that is people who are knitted together by a feeling derived by a common concern as seekers of what was desirable for the group. The peer group is the child own friends, and equal member of the group oen have common characteristics or interest. The peer group interests are short rage and temporary (Ezewu 2002). Moreso, the children changes their peer group membership as they for through different stages of development and can belong to a number of peer group at the same time (Ezewu, 2002). In some cases, members roles are less defined they change frequently in some, it may not be clear who is a member and who is not. In-group, the child holds a certain position and each he is expected to think and behave in a certain way. The peer group sets out certain
standard for the group and they also have norms and values, which they follow. The peer group influences are more pronounced and noted in secondary school than in primary schools, partly because some of the children go away
from home and stay in boarding schools where parental supervision and contact is very limited. The influence of peer group on the child is great both in and out of the school, because there is the tendency for members to be comfortable with the group norms and values. Sometimes peer group influence may lead to aggressive behaviour such as (rioting in school).
Peer group influence also prompt students to form clique with nicknames such as, Terror, Shark, Snake, Tempo, Blue Queen, Black angel etc. students are always anxious to initiate their peers whether good or bad, they would want to go to the church or mosque due to their peer influences. They may also join different clubs like Girls Guides, Boys Scout, Brigade, Red Cross, Savan, etc (Owuamanam, 2001). The peer group has their own “acceptance” which they have to consider before a child could be accepted or rejected from a group.
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