EFFECT OF PLANNED ACCULTURATION ON RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE AND PEACEFUL CO- EXISTENCE AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of planned acculturation on religious tolerance and peaceful co- existence among primary school pupils in Nigeria. A quasi- experimental research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised all primary schools pupils Nigeria. While the sample size of the study comprised 400public primary schools pupils in FCT, drawn from four Area Councils in FCT using multistage sampling techniques. Data was collection for the study using two instruments titled Pupils Religious Tolerance Scale (PRTS) and Pupils’ Ethnic Tolerance Scale (PETS) developed by the researchers. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the two research questions while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test hypotheses at 0.05 level of significant. Findings of the study revealed among others that the mean religious tolerance scores and peaceful co–existence scores of primary schools pupils exposed to planned acculturation were higher than that of those in control group who were not exposed planned acculturation but social studies. It was therefore concluded that introduction of planned acculturation in primary school curriculum will foster religious, peaceful co- existence and national unity among citizens. Based on the findings of this study it was recommended among others that federal ministry of education in conjunction with curriculum planners should develop and introduce planned acculturation in basic education in Nigeria.