Factors Affecting Students’ Enrolment into Primary Education Programme in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba

ABSTRACT

This study examined the factors affecting students’ enrolment into primary education programme in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba. Three research questions guided the study. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study.  Population of the study is comprised of one hundred and fifty-four (154) Primary Education Students (Full-Time and Part-Time NCE) in Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba. One hundred (100) Primary Education Students in Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba were selected through simple random sampling technique to represent the entire population.  The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire and validated by two experts; one in Department of Primary Education and the other in Educational Measurement and Evaluation, both from Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State. One hundred (100) copies of the validated questionnaire were personally administered on the respondents by hand with the help of two research assistants and same were retrieved and analyzed using frequency count, mean and standard deviation statistics. Findings of the study that Learning environment, government policy a students’ preference affects students’ enrolment into Primary Education in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba.  It was recommended that Federal Government should provide incentives such as scholarships and guaranteed employment opportunities for teacher trainees to encourage enrolment in Primary Education programmes.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

Education is the best legacy every nation can pass to her citizenry. It is the key to the development of any nation. No nation can experience progress and even development without standard education. It is the foundation for every profession and career.

Education according to Onyeachu and Onyeachu (2019) is a veritable tool for national development. This being the case according to them, there is every need to prepare teachers who will educate the citizenry. To that end, Onyeachu et al (2019) opined that for any nation to develop rapidly, there must be a teacher that does the work of educating its citizens. Hence, Mkpa (2020) stated that there can be no meaningful formal education in the absence of the teacher. Education is nothing without qualified teacher. The Federal Republic of Nigeria (2018) averred that no education system may rise above the quality of its teachers. As a result of the above assertion, teachers have to be well prepared practically for effective performance to their duties.

Since education is the key to science and technological advancement and even development, teachers are the bedrock of education at every level. Without them, the goals of education cannot be achieved. They play vital roles in ensuring that the overall goals of education at all levels are achieved (Roy, 2021).  Teachers are specially trained for this very important task. For effective training of teachers who will in turn teach and train the younger generation, colleges of education were established and charged with the responsibility of training competent teachers in the country. They produce teachers with the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) which happens to be the minimum qualification for entering into the teaching profession. Regular students spend minimum of three (3) years and part-time students spend 4 years in college of education in other to obtain the said qualification; after which they will be registered as professional teachers by Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). TRCN is a body responsible for registering teachers in Nigeria (Obed, 2020). Colleges of Education, according to Olabode and Bello (2018) are the institutions that award the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE), and this is obtained after a three – year post – secondary school pre – service teacher education programme.

In recognition of the pivotal role of quality teachers in the provision of quality education at all levels, teacher education shall continue to be emphasized in educational planning and development (FGN, 2018). Teacher education is the education given in institutions of learning after secondary education. It is through teacher education programme that teachers are prepared for effective performance of their duties. (Onyeachu & Onyeachu, 2019).  In Nigeria, Teacher Education has several levels. These according to Olayanju and Opatayo (2018) are: National Certificate in Education (NCE), Bachelor’s Degree in Education (B. Sc (Ed) or B. Ed), Professional Diploma in Education (PDE), Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), Master’s Degree in Education (M. Ed) and Doctor of Philosophy in Education (Ph. D). Onyeachu and Onyeachu (2019) noted further that the well-articulated objectives of teacher education cannot be achieved if teachers are not well prepared for effective performance of their duties.

Students’ enrollment on the other hand is the process of arranging to attend an institution and specific classes. This term may also describe the number of students that currently attend a school or a course. Student’s enrollment refers to the act of signing up for school and/or specific classes or co-curricular activities at that particular school (Robert, 2019).  Enrollment refers either to the number of people signed up for school or other services or the act of signing up for school or other services. Enrollment is the process of registering or being registered for a course, college, university, or group. It can also refer to the number of people who have registered for a particular course or program (Robert, 2019). Before the beginning of every semester in every higher institution, new students are registered. The process of the registration is known as enrollment. Therefore, enrollment is the process of registering students for a fresh academic year of session. It can also be referred to as the number of people who are registered at an institution or on a course. This term may also describe the number of students that currently attend a school or a course. Student enrollment refers to the act of signing up for school and/or specific classes or co-curricular activities at that particular school. The enrollment process is completed after a student is granted admission to a particular school (Justin, 2019). This term may also describe the number of students that currently attend a school or a course. Enrollment can be seen as the body of people (such as students) who register or enroll at the same time. The meaning of the word enrollment is taking admission or initiating for attendance in school or office. If a student wants to take admission in any school or college for any course, there is an enrollment process (Obed, 2018). The student has to fill-up the form and then submit it to the college or school.

Students’ enrolment into Colleges of Education in Nigeria seem to be hindered by several factors such as learning environment, government policy and students’ preference. Learning environment plays crucial role on enhancing students’ learning. Learning environment refers to the physical, social, and psychological context in which learning takes place. It encompasses all the elements and factors that contribute to a person’s educational experience (Roy, 2020). Ehiametalor (2018), noted that school buildings, chairs and desks, boarding facilities, materials, laboratory equipment and qualified instructional and supporting personnel are the important inputs necessary for a school learning environment. He maintained that the physical out look of a school building has a strong psychological impact on students’ attitude towards the school authority and willingness to belong. In fact, the effectiveness of the school system in achieving the established goals is dependent on adequate facilities. Ajayi (2019), noted that institutions exist in a symbiotic relationship with their environment and the subjects taught in the classroom. In the production of educated and socialized students, he stressed that schools should create a conducive environment for teaching and learning. School subjects need to be learnt in a conducive environment for better understanding of the subject. A situation where students are exposed to indecent environment is not good for learning. The learning environment should give the students appropriate culture that will enable them to interact when they meet their counterparts elsewhere in the world. They should not be at sea at such times as a result of the inadequacies of their learning environment. Farombi (2020), also noted that school input denotes and represent all the factors or characteristics of the school that promote cognitive achievement of the students. He stressed that the school compound could be regarded as the second home of the children. By this, the school environment must be comfortable and convenient for the students’ academic work. Justin (2019), conducted research on the causes and effects of low enrollment of students in science-related courses in colleges of education in Benue State. It was found among others that lack of practical facilities, school environment, students’ lack of interest in education related courses and government policy are some of the causes of students’ low enrollment in science related courses particularly in colleges of education which has affected the standard of teacher education in the state.

Policy, on the other hand is a principle or course of action proposed or implemented by a governing body. Governing bodies are groups of people that act in unison to guide and support a community, unit, business, institution, etc. While government policy on the other hand is a set of decisions made by governments and other political actors to influence, change, or frame a problem or issue that has been recognized as being in the political realm by policy makers and/or the wider public (Onyi, 2021). Government policy refers to the set of decisions and actions taken by a government to address real-world problems and challenges (Roy, 2020). He added that it encompasses various areas such as economic policy, foreign policy, social policy, and environmental policy, among others. The implementation of public policy is known as public administration. A government is a body of people that work to effectively and successfully guide a unit or community. One thing government does is set and administer policy. They use customs, laws, and institutions to exercise political, executive, and sovereign power with the intent of managing a state of wellbeing that benefits all aspects of the community or unit Researchers like Obed (2020) who investigated factors affecting students’ enrollment in Colleges of Education in Kwara State. The study revealed that over the years Colleges of Education in the state have experienced a decline in students’ enrollment which according to the study is caused by factors such as poor government policy, lack of facilities, unhealthy environment and societal perception of the importance of college education.

On the other hand, preference is a technical term usually used in relation to choosing between alternatives. For example, someone prefers A over B if they would rather choose A than B. Preferences are central to decision theory because of this relation to behavior. Some methods such as Ordinal Priority Approach use preference relation for decision-making. As connative states, they are closely related to desires. The difference between the two is that desires are directed at one object while preferences concern a comparison between two alternatives, of which one is preferred to the other. References refer to an individual’s attitude towards a set of objects, typically reflected in an explicit decision-making process (Justin, 2019). The term is also used to mean evaluative judgment in the sense of liking or disliking an object (Robert, 2019) which is the most typical definition employed in psychology. However, it does not mean that a preference is necessarily stable over time. Preference can be notably modified by decision-making ocesses, such as choices. Consequently, preference can be affected by a person’s surroundings and upbringing in terms of geographical location, cultural background, religious beliefs, and education. These factors are found to affect preference as repeated exposure to a certain idea or concept correlates with a positive preference. Olaniyi (2019) carried out a study on the causes of poor students’ enrollment in mathematics in colleges of education in Ogun state. The study found that poor student’s enrollment in mathematics, particularly in colleges of education is caused by many factors, some of which are students lack of interest in mathematics, lecturers’ method of teaching, students’ preference, peer group influence, parental influence, poor education facilities and the believe that mathematic s is meant for the bright students. Students’ preference tends to affect their decision to enroll for a programme or choose a course of study.  Hence this study investigated the factors affecting students’ enrolment into primary education in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba.

Statement of the Problem

Primary education is the foundational stage of every educational system, and the preparation of competent teachers through programmes such as the Primary Education Department in Colleges of Education is crucial to national development. However, there has been a noticeable decline in students’ enrolment into the Primary Education programme in Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, despite the growing demand for qualified teachers at the basic education level. This trend raises concern regarding the underlying factors that discourage prospective students from choosing this discipline. Several challenges could be responsible for the low enrolment rate.

The state of the learning environment, including inadequate teaching facilities, overcrowded classrooms, and poor infrastructure, could negatively influence students’ decisions. Government policies regarding teacher education, such as changes in admission criteria, policy neglect, or inadequate funding, could also serve as a barrier to enrolment. Furthermore, students’ personal preferences, influenced by societal perceptions, career prospects, and peer influence, might contribute to their lack of interest in studying Primary Education. It is against this backdrop that this study is carried out to investigate the factors affecting students enrolment into Primary Education in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba.

Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to ascertain the factors affecting students’ enrolment into Primary Education in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba. Specifically, the study to examine:

1. Learning environment as a factor affecting students’ enrolment into Primary Education in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba.
2. government Policy a factor affecting students’ enrolment into Primary Education in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba.
3. students’ preference a factor affecting their enrolment into Primary Education in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba.

Research Questions

The following research questions were raised to guide the study:

1. How does learning environment affects students’ enrolment into Primary Education in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba?
2. To what extent does government Policy affects students’ enrolment into Primary Education in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba?
3. To what extent does students’ preference affect their enrolment into Primary Education in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba?

Significance of the Study

This study would be of immense benefit to students, Educators, College Management, Policy Makers and Future Researchers.

The study is significant to students as it would help identify and explain the various factors that influence their decision to enrol in Primary Education programmes. By understanding these factors such as social perception, career prospects, financial challenges, or lack of awareness students would make more informed academic and career decisions. The findings would also empower them to demand improved guidance and counseling services that support their educational choices.

Educators stand to benefit from the findings of this study as it would uncover gaps in students’ interest and participation in Primary Education. With a clearer understanding of the enrolment challenges, lecturers and teaching staff would adopt more effective instructional approaches, enhance student engagement, and provide mentorship that aligns with the expectations and aspirations of prospective enrollees.

The study would guide the college management in developing and implementing strategic interventions aimed at improving enrolment into the Primary Education programme. Through the identification of key influencing factors, the management would revise admission procedures, improve programme visibility, strengthen academic support services, and initiate outreach efforts that attract more students to the department.

For policy makers in the education sector, the study provides relevant empirical evidence that would inform the formulation of policies and funding models aimed at revitalizing interest in Primary Education. It would also guide the creation of national or institutional incentives such as scholarships, improved remuneration, or awareness campaigns that address systemic barriers to enrolment and promote teacher education across the country.

Future researchers would find the study valuable as a foundational resource for further investigations into teacher education and enrolment trends. The study would help identify gaps in existing literature, provide data for comparative studies across institutions, and suggest new variables or perspectives for examining the dynamics of enrolment into educational programmes in Nigeria and beyond.

Scope of the Study

This study is focused on factors affecting students’ enrolment into Primary Education in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba with particular emphasis on learning environment, government policy and students’ preferences. Respondents of the study are Primary Education Students in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba.

Pages:  61

Category: Project

Format:  Word & PDF               

Chapters: 1-5                                          

Source: Imsuinfo

Material contains Table of Content, Abstract and References.