Social Stratification and Students’ Access to Higher Education in Gumel Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT This study was aimed at investigating the relationship between social stratification and students’ access to higher education in Gumel local government area of Jigawa State Nigeria. It focused on how certain aspects of social stratification like social class, socio-economic status, gender, and residence related to access to higher education in Gumel local government. The study met the following objectives; To investigate the nature of social stratification in terms of social class, gender and socio economic status in Gumel local government area of Jigawa state; To assess the level of access to higher education in the study area; To establish the relationship between the type of social stratification and access to higher education in Gumel local government are of Jigawa state. The study used a field correlation survey design to ascertain the relationship between the two variables under study, and cross —sectional survey to cover the vast of Gumel local government area. The research comprised a population of 5311 students from 3 tertiary institutions in the study area. A simple random sampling technique was used and sample of 384 respondents were selected. Statistical tools were used; Means and standard deviations to investigate the nature of social stratification and level of access to higher education was employed. While Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient and regression was used to determine the relationship between the two variables under study. The overall finding revealed a significant relationship between social stratification and access to higher education with positive r=O.964, sig=O.000.Finally, recommendations such as the need to uplift the living standard of the people in Jigawa state, and also government should ensure that education institutions are evenly distributed were given.

 TABLE OF CONTENT

DECL.ARA1ION A. II

DECL.ARATION B....... N

APPROV’AL ShEET 

DEDICATION ..........

TABLE OF CONTENT 

LISF OF TABLES 

LIST OF FIGURES 

ABSTRACT XII

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION  1.

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Backgorund 1

1.1.1 Historical Perspective 1

1.1.2 Theoretical Perspective 3

1.1.3 Conceptual perspective 4

1.1.4 Contextual perspective 6

1.2 Statement of the problem 7

1.3 Purpose of the study 8

1.4 Research Objectives 8

1.5 Research question 8

1.6 Hypothesis 9

1.7Scope 9

1.7.1 Geographical scope 9

1.7.2 Content scope 9

1.8 Significance of the study 9

1.9 Operational definition of terms 11

CHAPTER 1W0: LITERATURE REVIEWIIIISIIIIISIIIIIWIIW I IIIWIIWI IWIIIIIIWISO SISISIlI 5 IWIIWI 12

2.0 Introduction 12

2.1 Theoretical Review 12

vi

2.2 Conceptual framework on social stratification and students access to higher

education 14

2.3 Related Literature 15

2.3.1 Social stratification 15

2.3.2 Access to higher education 26

2.3.3 Social stratification and Access to education 35

2.4 Summary of Gaps 39

CHAPfER 1~HREE: ~4E*T~I1ODOL..OGY~ 42

3.0 Introduction 42

3.1 Research Design 42

3.2 Research population 42

3.3 Sample size 43

3.4 Sampling procedure 43

3.5 Research Instrument 43

3.6 Validity and Reliability of research instruments 43

3.7 Data Gathering procedures 45

3.8 Data Analysis 45

3.9 Ethical considerations 46

3.10 Limitations of the study 46

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF

DATA 48

4.0 Introduction 48

4.1 Social Demographic Characteristics related to Social Stratification in Gumel local

government area of Jigawa state, Nigeria 48

4.2 The nature of Social Stratification in terms of social class, socio-economic status,

gender and residence 51

4.3 Relationship between the level of social stratification and access to higher

education in Gumel local government area of Jigawa state 58

CHAPTER FIVE~62

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. ~ 62

5.0 Introduction~62

5.1 Discussion of findings 62

5.1.1 The level of social stratification 62

5.1.2 The level of access to higher education 63

5.1.3 Relationship between the level of social stratification and access to higher

education in Gumel local government area of Jigawa state 64

5.2 Conclusions 65

5.3 Recommendations 66

REFERENCES 68

APPENDICES  74

APPENDIX I 1R.ANSMITrAL LETTER . 74

APPENDIX II: A QUESTIONNAIRE FOR STUDENTS ON SOCIAL

STRATIFICATION AND STUDENTS’ ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION IN

GUMEL LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, JIGAWA STATE NIGERIA 75

APPENDIX III 80

RESEARCHER’S CURRICULUM VITAE 80