Factors affecting the Enrollment of Students into Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State

Factors affecting the Enrollment of Students into Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the factors affecting enrolment of students into Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State. The population of the study comprised all the five hundred and sixty-three (563) students Full-Time, Regular Part-Time and NCE part-time in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State. The sample of the study consisted of 100 students. The random sampling technique was employed to select the student’s male and female. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire, which was structured by the researcher titled “Factors Affecting the Enrolment of Students into Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State.” The questionnaire had two sections; section “A” comprised of the respondent’s personal data and section ‘B’ had the questionnaire items with their corresponding options. To ensure that the instrument is valid, copies of the instrument was sent to two lecturers; one in school of Secondary Education (Business) and the other in Educational Measurement and Evaluation in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba for face validation. One hundred (100) copies of the validated questionnaires were administered on the selected students in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State by the researcher with the help of two research assistance, 93 copies were retrieved and analyzed. The method used in analyzing the data collected are frequency count, mean and standard deviation statistics. The bench mark is fixed at 2.50. Therefore, any item with the mean of 2.50 and above was considered Agree, while items with mean below 2.50 was considered Disagree. Findings of the study revealed that environmental challenges, course of study and inadequate learning facilities affects the Enrollment of Students into Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that school management should endeavor to create a conducive learning environment to enhance students’ enrollment and many courses should be introduced so as to boost students’ enrollment into the college.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

Education remains the greatest for that brings about innovation, development and competitive advantage of any nation. This why countries like Nigeria invest so much in teacher education to ensure that quality of knowledge imparting on those who will in turn teacher the next generations. They are mostly trained in Colleges of Education, Polytechnics and Universities. But the rate of students’ enrollment into colleges of education remains an issue of concern.

Student enrollment is the process of arranging to attend an institution and specific classes, or the number of students currently attending a school or course. It involves completing necessary paperwork, paying fees, and securing a spot in the school or program. Enrollment can also refer to the maintenance of official records for each student, including their personal information, academic history, and attendance records (Robert, 2019). The total number of students currently attending or enrolled in an educational institution or program is often used for statistical or funding purposes (Obed, 2018). At the course or class level, student enrollment represents the number of students who have registered for a specific course or class within an institution, helping determine class size and resource allocation. Some institutions use the term to describe a student’s ongoing attendance without interruption, such as being required for certain scholarships or programs.

Factors such as learning environment, cost of learning materials, and learning facilities can affect students’ enrollment. In summary, student enrollment is the act of signing up for school and/or specific classes or co-curricular activities at a particular institution, and it is essential for tracking a student’s progress and ensuring they are attending the right classes or programs (Robert, 2019).

The learning environment is a crucial aspect of a student’s educational experience, encompassing physical, social, and psychological factors. It includes school buildings, chairs, desks, boarding facilities, materials, laboratory equipment, and qualified personnel. The physical appearance of a school building significantly impacts students’ attitude towards school authority and their willingness to belong. The effectiveness of the school system depends on adequate facilities. Farombi (2020) emphasizes that school input represents all factors that promote cognitive achievement. The school compound should be considered the second home for students, making the learning environment comfortable and convenient. Good environments, such as stimulating classroom buildings, good chairs and desks, and good ventilation, are expected to make learning more effective. The arrangement of furniture, lighting, temperature, and access to resources all influence the learning experience.  Obemeata (2017), while agreeing that a conducive learning environment is one where there are sufficient human and material resources, noted that in most primary schools in Nigeria, learning takes place under adverse conditions. The classrooms are not only in a state of disrepair, they are over-crowded and teaching is done with few instructional materials. Okafor (2019), observed that poor ventilation; lack of accommodation and furniture, filthy and untidy classroom and the non-availability of instructional materials obviously cannot promote or motivate good quality teaching or learning but produce poor performance of students in their academic endeavour.

The cost of learning materials refers to the expenses associated with acquiring educational resources, including textbooks, course materials, supplementary materials like workbooks, study guides, and reference books, digital learning materials like e-books, online courses, and subscription-based learning platforms, and open-access educational materials (Obed, 2018). These costs can include printing, distributing, or using open-access materials, art materials like paints, canvases, brushes, and other creative tools, lab equipment and materials, fieldwork and practical experience materials and travel, printing lecture notes and assignments, educational software programs, professional development and training materials, and adaptive learning materials that use technology to personalize the learning experience. The cost of learning materials can vary depending on the course and the specific needs of the students.          Learning facilities according to Aworanti (2020) is a broad term that can refer to physical or virtual spaces and resources that are designed to support and enhance the learning process. These facilities can vary widely depending on the context, but they are generally created with the goal of providing an environment conducive to learning, skill development, and knowledge acquisition.

The enrollment of students in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba is dwindling every year and if nothing is done, the standard of teacher. Hence the need to investigate the factors affecting enrollment of students into Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State.

Statement of the Problem

The Federal Colleges of Education (FCE) in Nigeria play a crucial role in shaping the educational landscape of the country by producing skilled and qualified teachers. However, despite their significance, there exists a complex set of factors that influence the enrollment of students into these institutions.

Despite the critical role of Federal Colleges of Education in teacher training and education, there is a noticeable decline in enrollment rates over recent years. This according to Roy (2019), can be traced to the he availability and quality of educational infrastructure, including classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and technological resources, parental income and education levels, government policies related to scholarships, financial aid, and admission criteria and social perceptions of the teaching profession. Changes in government policies related to education, funding, or accreditation may have direct implications for the enrollment dynamics of the Federal College of Education (Technical). An examination of the regulatory landscape is crucial to understanding the external factors shaping the institution’s operational environment. The alignment of the college’s program offerings with the needs and interests of potential students is paramount. An assessment of the relevance and competitiveness of the academic curriculum can shed light on whether the institution is meeting the evolving demands of the job market and the aspirations of its target demographic.

There exist some measures of discrimination, bias and negligence by the society towards NCE especially at the point of job entry and on the job. The society is of the opinion that NCE is meant only to train students to be professional teachers of which most parents and students are not interested in, rather parents prefer their children reading professional courses like engineering, medicine, law, accountancy, pharmacy and the like. It is against this backdrop that this study is carried out to investigate the factors affecting enrollment of students into Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State.

Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to ascertain factors affecting enrollment of students into Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State. Specifically, the study seeks to ascertain:

1. The environmental challenges on the enrollment of students into Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State.
2. The impact of course of study on the enrollment of students into Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State.
3. The impact of learning facilities on the enrollment of students into Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State.

Research Questions

The following questions were raised to guide the study:

1. How does environmental issues affect the enrollment of students into Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State?
2. How does course of study impact the enrollment of students into Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State
3. How does learning facilities impact the enrollment of students into Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State?

Significance of the Study

The study would be of immense benefit to students, Educators, School Management, Government, Research and the Field of Business Education.

For students, this study could provide valuable insights, enabling students to make informed decisions about whether to pursue admission into these institutions based on their individual circumstances, goals, and preferences. understanding the factors influencing enrollment could aid students and their families in financial planning. This includes assessing the costs associated with attending Federal Colleges of Education (Technical) Asaba, seeking financial aid options, and making decisions about education investments. The study could lead to the development of student support services tailored to address specific enrollment challenges. This may include academic assistance, counseling, mentorship programs, and financial aid initiatives that target the identified barriers to enrollment.

For School Management, they could use the findings of the study to make informed decisions about admission policies and procedures. Understanding the factors that influence enrollment could help in designing strategies to improve the enrollment process. The study could help school management allocate resources more effectively. By identifying the factors affecting enrollment, educators could allocate resources such as scholarships, infrastructure, and teaching staff to areas where they are needed the most. The study could shed light on whether certain factors are leading to disparities in enrollment among different groups of students. Educators could use this information to promote diversity and inclusion by addressing barriers that certain groups face in accessing education. By addressing the factors that influence enrollment decisions, educators can work towards ensuring that enrolled students stay and complete their education. Management could use the findings to improve their marketing and recruitment strategies. Understanding what factors attract students to their institutions could help in tailoring marketing efforts to highlight these features. The study could establish a baseline for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of measures taken to improve enrollment. Educators could track changes in enrollment patterns over time to see if their interventions are making a difference.

For the Government, the study could inform government policies and reforms in the education sector. By understanding the factors influencing enrollment, the government could design policies that promote access to education, address enrollment barriers, and improve the overall quality of education in Federal Colleges of Education (Technical) Asaba. Government could allocate resources more efficiently based on the findings of the study. This includes directing funding towards areas that require improvement and addressing issues that may hinder student enrollment. The study could help in budget planning for the education sector. It provides insights into areas that need financial investment to attract more students, improve educational facilities, and support scholarships or financial aid programs. The government could use the study as a baseline for monitoring the effectiveness of its educational policies and initiatives. Over time, it could assess whether changes in enrollment patterns reflect the success of government interventions. A better understanding of factors affecting enrollment could help the government tailor educational policies to meet the country’s workforce needs, thus contributing to economic growth and development. The government could use the study to plan and prioritize the development of educational infrastructure and facilities, ensuring that Federal Colleges of Education are well-equipped to attract and accommodate students.

For Researchers, they could use the findings to inform education policies and strategies aimed at improving enrollment rates in Federal Colleges of Education. This could help in addressing the challenges that deter students from enrolling. By identifying the barriers to enrollment, researchers could suggest improvements in the quality of education and support services offered in these colleges, which could attract more students. This study could serve as a basis for further research and studies in the field of education, particularly in Nigeria. Researchers could build on the findings to explore related issues or conduct comparative studies

Scope of the Study

This study focused on factors affecting the enrollment of students into Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State. With particular emphasis on environmental issues, course of study and learning facilities as variables of interest.

Pages:  60

Category: Project

Format:  Word & PDF               

Chapters: 1-5                                          

Source: Imsuinfo

Material contains Table of Content, Abstract and References.