SCHOOL DROPOUT AMONG BOYS AND GIRLS FROM SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN LAGOS STATE
SCHOOL DROPOUT AMONG BOYS AND GIRLS FROM SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN LAGOS STATE
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Date
1998
Authors
ONYEBEKE, LUCY OMUMECHUKWU
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Abstract
This study was conducted primarily to assess the extent, causes and solution to the problem
of school dropout among secondary school boys and girls in Lagos State. The views of practising
teachers, principles, secondary school students, their parents, school dropout and their parents and
officials of the state Ministry of Education were sought for.
The review of related literature covered the history of secondary educational practice in
Nigeria and Lagos state. The relevance of secondary education and the concept of school dropout
were discussed. The review also focused on the causes, consequences and solution to school
dropout
The survey research design was employed for the study. The population of the study
comprised of 37, 171 students and 1509 teachers in all the secondary schools that have existed for
more than seven years in all the educational districts within Lagos State. Also, all parents of
students schooling in all the selected secondary schools constituted the parents' population. Ten
parents of Secondary School dropouts, eight Secondary School dropouts as well as six Lagos State
Ministry of Education officials were also interviewed. A total of 24 schools were used for the
study. Random sampling technique was used to select the sample size of schools, teachers,
students and parents. The research made use of structured questionnaire, observational technique,
and interview guide to collect relevant information from the respondents. The nominal measuring
scale was used for the study which warranted the use of non-parametric statistics. Frequency
distribution, percentages and chi-squarc test were the main statistical tools employed for data
analysis.
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The major findings of the study is the signifieant difference in the opinions of all
respondents regarding the rate of dropout of boys from that of girls from secondary schools and
the causes of school dropout The study reveals that in the year 1992, 1993, and 1994, the dropout
rate of boys and girls in Lagos state is between 1-5% as indicated by 81(62.8%), 70 (54.3%), 82
(60.3%) and 9 (69.28%), 10 (66.2%), and 9 (60.0%) of both the teachers and principals
respectively. The study also shows that in Lagos state girls drop out from secondary school more
than boys as indicated by 339 (64.4%) of the respondents. The result of the study also shows that
most of the dropouts witnessed among boys and girls occur at the senior secondary school level as
stated by 370 (69.2%) of the respondents.
Peer group influence, financial problem, learning difficulties, illness, birth position and
family size were some of the factors identified as the major causes of school dropout as were
highlighted by 403 (75.5%), 430 (76.5%), 344 (64.4%), 377 (70.5%) and 297 (58.8%) of the
respondents respectively. Also, 429 (76.9%) of the respondents revealed that most boys dropout
to engage in business so as to get rich quick while 488 (85.9%) respondents indicated that most
girls dropout of school due to pre-marital pregnancy. All the respondents remained positive to all
the suggested remedies to school dropout.
Recommendations given include stricter and prompt disciplinary action against delinquent
students, institution of efficient and functional guidonce and counseling unit in the schools, genuine
interest of parents on the academic work of their children and government subsiding the cost of
educational materials, to assist the less privileged students. An immediate and positive change in
societal values are also recommended by the study. Further research work on the progression rate
of students from one class to another in the state secondary schools as well as using a different
population sample for similar study are also recommended.
Description
A Thesis submitted to the Department of Education, Faculty of Education, Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria, Nigeria in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Award of the
Degree of Master of Education (Educational Administration and Planning)
Keywords
SCHOOL, DROPOUT, BOYS, GIRLS, SECONDARY, SCHOOLS, LAGOS STATE