Challenges of access to education in the developing world and elsewhere appear to be widespread. Many declarations and conventions have been developed to assist countries to respond to the issue. While challenges of access are universal, Africa in general and sub-Saharan Africa in particular are presented with additional concerns about gender equality and gender parity. While learner numbers seem to be on the decline globally, dropout amongst girls is disproportionately greater than amongst boys. Even though school retention presents a challenge at all levels of the schooling system, it is more acute for girls at the secondary school level. This study was conducted to examine and understand factors that shape retention of secondary school female learners in two rural public schools in Alimosho Region of Lagos State, Nigeria. The study design was qualitative and interpretive in nature. Data collection strategies included administered questionnaires in two schools, focus group discussion with twenty female learners in two schools, case studies, individual interviews with four participants from two schools, and observation in English and Biology classes where the two teachers from the two schools participated in the interviews. Ethical clearance from Alimosho Educational Region office and the two schools was obtained before undertaking the study. Participants’ school principals also signed written consent forms before interviews. The female learners were briefed about the study interview activities and advised that their participation was voluntary and that they were free to withdraw at any point. This study drew on Sen’s (1989, 2000) capabilities theory to understand the phenomenon beyond dominant discourses on education that view education as a basic human right or that focus on economic and development gains. The key finding of this study is that in-school and out- of- school factors interact in complex ways to support female learner retention. Key among these are value placed on education by female learners and significant others, particularly parents; family support; and individual aspirations. Extra-curricular participation, government policy, role models, and peer support were also found to be important factors that mediate progression and retention.

This study was conducted at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and it considered the information literacy and lifelong learning skills of the students in the University. The National Open University is an Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system that encompasses education for all, education for life, lifelong learning, life-wide education, adult education, mass education, media-based education, self-learning and part-time studies. The ability to recognise the need for the available information, retrieve, evaluate and use this information is a hallmark towards the direction of information literacy in any society. Developing lifelong learners is central to the mission of higher education institutions like universities, especially for distance learners. The purpose of the study was to investigate information literacy skills amongst the students in the National Open University. This study utilized the case study method of quantitative research mixed with a qualitative strand in its data collection process. The dominant quantitative approach (questionnaire) was used to investigate the information literacy and lifelong learning skills of the students in the National Open University whilst the qualitative approach (interview and document analysis) was used to collect qualitative data needed to clarify areas that were not adequately covered in the quantitative data collection phase. This study used the questionnaire, interview and document analysis as its data collection methods. The study was conducted in five selected study centres out of the seventy-two centres of the National Open University. This study utilized the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) formula, where the sample size of 384 was chosen because the total number of the sampled students’ population was 170 830. From the quantitative perspective of the study, data analysis involved the use of simple frequency and percentage distribution, mean, median and standard deviation. The descriptive statistics were generated on all the variables in the instrument and this was accomplished with the aid of a computer software programme known as the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. A thematic method of data analysis was used for this qualitative strand of the study. The results of the study revealed that the information literacy library facilities available at NOUN were course materials and University websites. The study confirmed that there were no facilities in relation to information literacy development in all the schools and there was no form of information literacy integration curriculum in the University. The study established that there were no information literacy programmes put in place to support, promote and create awareness of information literacy for lifelong learning and no methods were put in place to assess or measure the information literacy competency levels of the students in the National Open University of Nigeria. The study revealed that the link of collaboration between the academics in the school and the professional librarians was weak and not coordinated. The documents analysed brought to light information that provided insights on information literacy development in the University. In the documents analysed, University documents were in place concerning information literacy development but these resources only stated in print, the development processes towards information. The results of the study revealed that there was still so much work to be done with regards to the implementation of policies by the University management and staff towards information literacy development. The students in the University also have a role to play in developing their information literacy skills for lifelong learning. A recommendation that was made from this study was for the University management to integrate information literacy to become part of the university curriculum for all students. Information literacy (IL) policies should be formulated and channelled to support IL education in the University so that students will attain the necessary competencies and skills needed to access, process and assess information. Arising from the results gained from this study, it was recommended that information literacy educators should be trained in the area of information resources and ICT in order to enhance job performance. There is a serious need for the University to engage the librarians through regular training and re-training through professional development workshops. The library staff in conjunction with the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) unit of the University should create seminars and workshop for students and staff towards the improvement of information literacy instruction. For effective IL implementation in a distance learning environment, the University should work towards developing an information literacy course that is designed for asynchronous online delivery. A further empirical study on the development and implementation of information literacy skills for students in the University is also recommended. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

The dissertation is focused on exploring the aspects of the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum that shows its individualized nature. The aim of the study was to explore individualized instruction from the view of the ACE program with a view of possible recommendation for use on a wider scale in Nigerian schools. This was considered because of the several lapses identified in the present Nigerian education program. The research explored other teaching and learning methodologies to establish commonality and assess if indeed the programs form of individualization is related to any existing form. Interviews were conducted to get the experiences of students and supervisors who are using the program. Recommendations were made for consideration to the users of the program on the strengths and weaknesses examined and suggestions for possible improvement given based on the responses of the research participants. / M. Ed. (Didactics)

The dissertation is focused on exploring the aspects of the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum that shows its individualized nature. The aim of the study was to explore individualized instruction from the view of the ACE program with a view of possible recommendation for use on a wider scale in Nigerian schools. This was considered because of the several lapses identified in the present Nigerian education program. The research explored other teaching and learning methodologies to establish commonality and assess if indeed the programs form of individualization is related to any existing form. Interviews were conducted to get the experiences of students and supervisors who are using the program. Recommendations were made for consideration to the users of the program on the strengths and weaknesses examined and suggestions for possible improvement given based on the responses of the research participants. / M. Ed. (Didactics)

This research examined the reasons for the differences in the academic performance of school learners, and makes reference to economic, social and cultural capital theory in explaining educational imbalances in society. Many researchers have conducted studies on the factors contributing to the academic performance of learners at various levels of schooling have been undertaken. These researchers have come to the conclusion that the academic performance of learners is affected by numerous factors, namely, gender, age, learners' schooling, family’s socio-economic status, residential area of learners, the medium of instruction in schools, tuition trends, hours spent on studying on a daily basis and accommodation in hostels (Petersen, 2010:15). There is a popular saying in south-western Nigeria, that “if the parents’ financial status is good, the reflection of it will show in the child”. This study is focused on the academic performance of learners at the secondary school level and investigates the influence of economic, social and cultural capital on their academic performance. This study aims to determine which factors contribute to the poor academic performance of rural secondary school learners in south-western Nigeria and then, based on the findings of the research undertaken to make recommendations regarding what could be done to improve the academic performance of these learners. The mixed-methods approach of combining both qualitative and quantitative approaches to accomplish the aims of the research were used. The population consisted of four secondary schools, four school principals, 16 teachers, 40 parents and 120 learners. According to the results of this research, we can see that the social, cultural and economic capital of parents is a powerful determinant with regard to motivating their children’s education. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Socio-Education)

The goal of this study was to discover the contributing factors to depression in adolescents leading to hospitalisation to a psychiatric hospital. The study was conducted in a Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Enugu, Nigeria. The study population was adolescents (between 11-19years of age) both males and females who were diagnosed of depression admitted between the year of 2017-2018 at Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Enugu, Nigeria. A qualitative descriptive research was done. Participants were chosen by purposive (non-probability) sampling methods. Data was collected through face-to face individual interviews method. The study’s findings showed that factors contributing to depression in adolescents are related to biological, psychological and social causes. It would further be useful to help the health professionals in their care of adolescents’ psychiatric patients with depression having known the contributing factors. The study recommended early detection and treatment that could reduce incidence of depression and hospitalisation in the psychiatric units. / Health Studies / M. P. H. (Public Health)

Abstract in English, Afrikaans and Zulu / This study explored how location and gender influence the performance of students in Physics in Akure South Local Government, Ondo State, Nigeria. The sample consisted of four schools randomly selected from the co-educational schools in the public schools. Data were collected through interviews, classroom observation, focus group interviews of the students and documents obtained from the school principals on students’ academic performance in the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) from 2011-2015. The validity and the reliability of all these instruments were established. The data obtained through interviews were interpreted qualitatively. The documents obtained from the selected schools were also analyzed. The results of the study revealed that the urban students perform better in Physics than the rural students. The study also revealed that the gender of the students affects their performance in Physics with male students performing better than female students. Frantic efforts should be made to ensure conducive learning environment and equivalent learning opportunities to both male and female students. / Hierdie studie ondersoek hoe plek en geslag die prestasie van studente in Fisika in die Akure Suid-plaaslike regering, Ondo-staat, Nigerië, beïnvloed. Die steekproef het bestaan uit vier skole wat lukraak gekies is uit die mede-opvoedkundige skole in die openbare skole. Data is ingesamel deur onderhoude, klaskamerwaarnemings, fokusgroeponderhoude van die studente en dokumente wat van die skoolhoofde verkry is oor studente se akademiese prestasie in die Wes-Afrikaanse Senior Sekondêre Sertifikaat-eksamen (WASSCE) vanaf 2011-2015. Die geldigheid en betroubaarheid van al hierdie instrumente is vasgestel. Die data wat deur onderhoude verkry is, is kwalitatief geïnterpreteer. Die dokumente wat van die geselekteerde skole verkry is, is ook ontleed. Die resultate van die studie het getoon dat die stedelike studente beter in Fisika verrig as die landelike studente. Die studie het ook onthul dat die geslag van die studente hul prestasie in Fisika beïnvloed, met manlike studente wat beter presteer as vroulike studente. Vreemde pogings moet aangewend word om bevorderlike leeromgewing en gelykwaardige leergeleenthede vir beide manlike en vroulike studente te verseker. / Lolu cwaningo luhlolisise ukuthi indawo kanye nobulili bathonya kanjani ukusebenza kwabafundi e-Physics e-Akure South Local Government, e-Ondo State, eNigeria. Isampula lalinabashumayeli izikole ezine ngezikhathi ezikhethiwe kusukela izikole co-ezemfundo ezikoleni zikahulumeni. Idatha abangu eziqoqiwe ngokusebenzisa izingxoxo, ekilasini observation, izingxoxo somnqopho sokufundisa isiqhema lwabafundi futhi imibhalo etholakala othishanhloko esikoleni ekusebenzeni abafundi 'academic eNtshonalanga Afrika Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) kusuka 2011 kuya ku-2015. De geldigheid en de betrouwbaarheid van alle deze instrumenten efen-widegesteldeld. Imibuzo yezintambo ze-data verkregen yesikhala esiphezulu se-geïnterpreteerd. De dokumenter fra de udvalgte skoler blev også analysisret. Imiphumela cwaningo lwembula ukuthi abafundi ezisemadolobheni basebente kancono Physics ngaphandle abafundi basezindaweni zasemakhaya. Lolu cwaningo lwembula nokuthi ubulili abafundi Ithinta hun ukusebenza Physics ne abafundi besilisa kokwenza Ukuze ungcono abafundi besilisa nabesifazane. Imizamo eqondile kufanele kwenziwe ukuze kuqinisekiswe imvelo yokufunda kanye namathuba okufunda okulinganayo kokubili abafundi besilisa nabesifazane / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Specialization in Natural Sciences)