Assessing the Influence of Arewa 24 on Academic Performance of Secondary School Students: a Study of Government Day Secondary School Gurin, Adamawa State.

ABSTRACTThis study, titled "Assessing the Influence of Arewa 24 on Academic Performance of Secondary School Students: A Study of GDSS Gurin, Adamawa State," investigates the impact of Arewa 24 programs on the academic focus and performance of students. The increasing time and attention students dedicate to television viewing, particularly entertainment-focused programs, raises concerns about its influence on their study habits and academic outcomes. The study adopts a survey research design, using a simple random sampling technique to select 150 Senior Secondary School students from GDSS Gurin. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages. Findings revealed that a significant number of students watch Arewa 24 daily, primarily at night, which conflicts with their study schedules and adversely affects their academic focus. Most students consume the channel for entertainment rather than educational purposes, with entertainment programs being the most preferred content. While some students reported positive impacts, such as increased academic interest, the majority identified negative effects, including distractions, procrastination, and reduced concentration. This research highlights the need for educators, policymakers, parents, and media professionals to collaborate in addressing these challenges and it contributes to the growing discourse on media influence and its implications for student performance, emphasizing the critical role of balancing entertainment and education in media consumption.