SOCIAL MOBILITY AND FURTHER EDUCATION INTENTIONS OF SELF-SPONSORED STUDENTS IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of social mobility and further education intentions of self-sponsored students in public Universities in Rivers State. Three research questions were raised and two hypotheses formulated to guide the study. Correlational survey design was adopted in the study, while the population comprised all self-sponsored students in the three public Universities in Rivers State out of which 284 students (186 males and 98 females) were sampled for the study through snowballing sampling technique. A questionnaire tagged “Social Mobility and Further Education Intention Questionnaire” (SMFEIQ) was used for data gathering and scaled along the line of a four point modified Likert scale of Strongly Agree (SA), Agree (A), Disagree (D) and Strongly Disagree (SD) with weighted values of 4, 3, 2 and 1. The questionnaire was face and content validated by experts in Rivers State University in Port Harcourt, Rivers State while the reliability of the questionnaire was estimated as 0.94 using Cronbach alpha statistics. The entire students sampled for the study responded to the questionnaire and returned their questionnaires immediately due to the sampling approach used. The research questions raised were answered using mean, standard deviation and ordinary least square regression while the hypotheses were tested using z-test at 0.05 level of significance. The result of the study found that the factors militating against the social mobility of self-sponsored students included financial constraints and inadequate support scheme. It was also revealed that income level was a significant determinant of students’ further education intentions. Strategies for improving further education intention of self-sponsored students included improved scholarship scheme and access to educational counselling. Perceived usefulness of education, income level and family size were significant determinants of intention for further education. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that Universities should also set up a special fund to support the education of disadvantaged students.