Trends in enrollment, graduation and staffing of science and technology education in Nigeria tertiary institutions: A gender participation perspective

Abstract

Hassan OM, Siyanbola WO, Aderemi HO, Taiwo K

Prominence has been given to science and technology (S&T) education of women in recent years. This is because they constitute a critical mass of non-harnessed potentials in the country that if given the opportunity, would contribute to national development. Thus the objective of this work was to study the enrollment, graduation and staffing pattern of the male and female gender in S&T fields in tertiary institutions within a span of 10 years (1997-2006), specific motivational factors for S&T education and factors influencing their choice of career. This was with a view to develop appropriate policy interventions that would enhance women’s educational participation in S&T. The study employed the use of structured questionnaire and personal interviews to obtain primary data from 2110 females in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the field of engineering and natural sciences in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria using stratified simple random sampling. Secondary data were also used. Descriptive statistic was employed for data analysis. The result of the study provided information on enrollments and graduation figures, performance, motivational factors and career advancement of the females. The study compared the data obtained from Nigeria with that from United States, United Kingdom and other African countries to identify cultural differences and similarities.