Private Cost and Transition of Public Junior Secondary School Students in Benin Metropolis, Edo State (Published)
This study investigated the private cost on the transition of public junior secondary school students to senior secondary schools in Benin Metropolis, Edo State, Nigeria. The research adopted a descriptive survey design based on correlational methods. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 30 public junior secondary schools, and data were collected from parents and teachers using validated questionnaires. Reliability was established using Cronbach Alpha method. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation), Pearson Product Moment Correlation and fishers’ Z at the 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that private costs incurred by parents include payment of PTA levies, purchase of uniforms, buying of textbooks and exercise books, transportation costs, and extra-lesson fees. The study found a significant negative relationship between private cost and students’ transition rate. It also found a significant difference in the relationship between private cost and students’ transition based on school location. The study concluded that high private costs significantly hinder students’ transition from junior to senior secondary school in Benin Metropolis. It is recommended that government should increase funding to schools to reduce reliance on parent levies, provide free textbooks and among others.
Keywords: private cost, public junior secondary school students, transition