Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies: Home

Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine the patterns of financial dependence of secondary school students in the rural and urban areas of Ondo state, Nigeria. The study investigated the general patterns of financial dependence of the adolescents in their education. Three main sources on which financial dependence could occur-dependence on family members, dependence on self-efforts and dependence on scholarship awards- were examined. Three hundred and twenty-six students, who were randomly selected, responded to items in 'Patterns of Students' Financial Dependence Inventory', a questionnaire designed by the researcher. One (1) research question was raised and three null hypotheses were postulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The data generated were analysed using frequency count, percentage and chi-square statistics. The results revealed that male and female students in the urban areas depended more on family members than on self- efforts and scholarship awards, male and female students in the rural areas depended on self-efforts and family members than on scholarship awards. It was also revealed that most of the students depended on a combination of the various sources of financial supports. These findings have implications for the provision of scholarship awards to students in secondary schools in the rural areas, especially the brilliant ones, by governments to alleviate their financial problems. This is because they waste a lot of their time participating in jobs seeking financial assistance. Also, the findings have implications for the establishment of counselling centres in communities generally, where both parents and their adolescent students could be counselled towards education. The investigation of the patterns of financial dependence of secondary school adolescents in this study highlights the situation on ground in adolescent education in Nigeria. Findings of the study are significant in that both parents and governments at the three levels of governance could generate solid systems of financial aids for students' education in Nigeria.

Keywords: Patterns of financial dependence, secondary school adolescents, family members, self- efforts, scholarship award, rural and urban areas, financial assistance/aids/supports

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