Socio-Cultural Factors as Determinants of Learning Experience of Exceptional Children in Ekiti State Secondary Schools (Published)
This study examined socio-cultural factors as determinants of learning experiences of exceptional children in Ekiti State Secondary Schools. The specific objectives were to investigate the relationship between learning experiences and family structures, religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender norms, community attitudes of exceptional children in Ekiti State Secondary Schools, Nigeria. The descriptive research design of the survey type was adopted for this study. The population for this study consists of all secondary school students in Ekiti State and a total sample of 600 Students were selected using multistage sampling procedure. An instrument titled “Socio-Cultural Factors and Learning Experiences of Exceptional Children Questionnaire(SCFLEECQ)” was used to collect data for the study. The instrument was validated by various experts using the face and content validity. For the reliability of the instrument, test-retest method was employed which yield a reliability coefficient of 0.80. The data collected were analyzed using inferential statistics of Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed significant relationship between family structures, religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender norms, community attitudes and the learning experiences of exceptional children. The study concluded that socio-cultural factors have significant positive relationships with learning experiences of exceptional children. It was recommended that State Ministry of Education should establish Family Support Centers in all Local Government Areas to provide counselling, guidance, and training programs for families of exceptional children. Also, religious leaders and organizations in Ekiti State should be engaged as partners in inclusive education advocacy through interfaith dialogue programs that promote positive theological interpretations of disability and culturally responsive special education training programs should be mandatory for all teachers and school administrators working with exceptional children in Ekiti State.
Keywords: Ekiti State, Learning experience, Secondary Schools, Socio-cultural, exceptional children
Gender Disparities in the Enrollment and Attainment of Primary Education Among Adolescents in Ado Local Government Area, Ekiti State (Published)
The study investigated gender disparities in the enrollment and attainment of primary education among adolescents in Ado Local Government, Ekiti State, Nigeria. This study examines the extent of these disparities, identifying key socio-economic, cultural, and policy-related factors that contribute to lower enrollment and completion rates among girls compared to boys. This study employed descriptive research of the survey type to investigate gender disparities in enrollment and attainment of primary education among adolescents in Ado Local Government. The population of this study consisted of primary school students within Ado Local Government. The sample for the study comprised 200 respondents selected from 10 primary schools from Ado Local Government using simple random sampling technique. Stratified sampling technique was used to select Twenty students from each school Ado Local Government of Ekiti State. The instrument used to collect data was Titled; Gender Disparities in the Enrollment and Attainment of Primary Education among Adolescents (GDEAPEA). To ascertain the validity of the instrument, copies of the questionnaire were given to experts in Test and Measurement in the Faculty of Education Ekiti State University to ensure the face and content validity. The data collected through questionnaires were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, and means. It was revealed from the findings that gender disparities exists in the enrolment and attainment of primary education among adolescents in Ado Local Government, Ekiti State. The findings also revealed that the factors contributing to the lower enrolment and completion rates of girls compared to boys in primary education in Ado Local Government ranges from household poverty, long distances to school, cost of schooling, Parental attitudes towards education and Existing government policies. Based on the findings it was recommended that equal opportunities should be given to both male and female students when considering the enrollment ratio. It was also recommended that there should be poverty alleviation programmes for parents and schools should be cited close to residential for ease access
Keywords: Adolescents, Ekiti State, Primary Education, ado local government area, gender disparitiesm enrollment