STUDENTS' PARTICIPATION IN VARIOUS FORMS OF EVENING CLASSES FOR FORMAL SCHOOL QUALIFICATION IN NORTHCENTRAL AND NORTH-WESTERN STATES, NIGERIA
STUDENTS' PARTICIPATION IN VARIOUS FORMS OF EVENING CLASSES FOR FORMAL SCHOOL QUALIFICATION IN NORTHCENTRAL AND NORTH-WESTERN STATES, NIGERIA
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Date
1975
Authors
Urevbu, Andrew Oghenero
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Abstract
This study investigated the background characteristics
of participants in evening classes and
explored some factors which influence their participation
in North-Central and North-Western States.
Such a study has practical value, for participants may
have characteristics which may help to explain the success
or failure of the evening class programmes provided at
present. The study also investigated students' perceived
motives in studying for their chosen qualifications, their
reasons for deciding to study by evening classes and also
their reasons for continuing to participate in evening
classes. It was regarded as necessary to duplicate this
study and know
whether or not the characteristics and motivation of
participants in the two states are similar. This should be
important to researchers since comparisons between two
states might lead to valid generalizations.
Five positional factors (age, sex, marital status,
employment status and annual income) and three psychological
factors (academic motivation, future security and
personal adjustment) were selected for this study. Data
for this investigation were collected from a randomly
selected sample of participants in evening classes in
North-Central (N = 210) and North-Western (N = 51) states,
utilising a survey questionnaire and Student Problem
Inventory (S.P.I.). A Bivaciats
research design utilising X2 (chi-square) statistics was
used to study the relationship between positional and
psychological factors and participation in evening
classes; and the strength of significant relationship was
measured by C (Pearson’s contingency coefficient).
The results of the study indicated the following:
1. Evening classes participants in North-Central
and North-Western states were similar.
2. Statistical tests of the data revealed a
significant relationship (P^.05) between age,
sex, employment status, annual income, academic
motivation, future security and participation in
evening classes. Marital status and the psychological
trait of personal adjustment were not significantly
related to participation in evening classes. For the
most part, these variables operated similarly within
the two states selected for this study i.e. North-
Central and North-Western State.
3. Results derived from the calculations of C (Pearson's
contingency coefficient) showed a high strength of
significant relationships, notably between the
variables annual income (North-Central State, C =
.4781; North-Western State, £ = .5335); age (North-
Central State,
£ = .4337; North-Western State, C = .4229); future
security (North-Central State, C = .4125; North-
Western State, C = .3447) and participation in
evening classes.
4. A widely endorsed reason why students in evening
classes study for their chosen qualification is to
pass an examination that would lead them to a higher
qualification.
There was also the necessity to fill gaps in
earlier education and training.
5. Most students decide to study for their chosen
qualification by evening classes partly because
there were no other means conveniently available
for them by which they can take the course
reasonably cheaply and partly because they were
unable to gain admission into full time classes.
6. Students seem likely to continue to participate
in evening classes if their part-time tutors are
well qualified and show dedication to duty, and
also if the evening classes are well organized.
It was concluded that in investigating the
relationship between ..the selected positional and
psychological factors and participation in evening
classes, a bivariate analysis was good for an exploratory
study such as this. However a multivariate analysis was
suggested once researchers are satisfied that sufficient
exploratory work had been done at a bivariate level. Other
areas suggested for further research included the area of
organization and planning of evening classes, and the
problem of dropout from evening classes- Moreover further
participation research is needed to investigate the ethnic
background of participants in evening classes. It was
contended that these research areas might be of value to
planners and agencies of evening class programmes.
Description
A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the degree of MASTER
OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AHMADU BELLO
UNIVERSITY ZARIA.
Keywords
STUDENTS,, PARTICIPATION,, VARIOUS FORMS,, EVENING CLASSES,, FORMAL SCHOOL,, QUALIFICATION,, NORTHCENTRAL,, NORTH-WESTERN STATES,, NIGERIA