A Sociological Appraisal of Gender Disparity in Enrollment, Retention and Completion Rate of Junior Secondary Level in the Southern Senatorial Zone of Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study is a sociological appraisal of gender disparity in enrollment, retention and completion rates of junior secondary students in the Southern Senatorial Zone of Plateau State. The aim of the study was to investigate the extent to which enrollment, retention and completion rates differed among JSS three students between 2012/2013 – 2015/2016 sessions. Three research questions and one hypothesis were generated for the study. The sample for the population comprise of 600 students, out of which 336 were males while 261 were females. Two instruments were used for the study, Statistical Records on Enrollment, Retention and Completion rate of Junior Secondary Students (SRERC JSS) and questionnaire on Gender Bias in Education (QGBEES). The validity of QGBEES was established through a test retest method to ensure its stability and consistency using the Cronbach Alpha method while a reliability index of 0.98 was obtained. The result indicated that Enrollment, Retention and completion rates differ among boys and girls for all the sessions. The hypotheses revealed that no significant difference exist on gender bias and stereotyping practices among junior secondary school students. The study recommended the need for government support to the girl child education by funding and setting up of policies to stem the tide of gender disparity in education.

Keywords: Sociological Appraisal, gender disparity, enrollment and competition rate