Implementation of the National Policy on Equal Educational Opportunity in Secondary Schools in Onueke Education Zone

Abstract

This study investigated Extent of Implementation of the National Policy on Equal Educational Opportunity in Secondary Schools in Onueke Education Zone. Two purposes, two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 32,379 students in the 65 public senior secondary schools in Onueke Education Zone of Ebonyi State while the sample of the study comprised 395 students using Taro Yamane formular for finite population. Structured questionnaire tagged“Extent of Implementation of the National Policy on Equal Educational Opportunity in Secondary Schools Questionnaire” (EINPEEOSSQ), was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts, two of whom were from the Department of Educational Foundations and one from Measurement and Evaluation of Science Education Department, all in Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki. The overall reliability coefficient yielded 0.80 using Cronbach Alpha method. Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation, while t-test statistics was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The result revealed that: equity in educational provision are implemented to a high extent while gender equality in secondary schools in Onueke Education are implemented to a low extent. Based on the findings, the study recommended among other things that Government of Ebonyi State should provide resources and support for teachers to incorporate skill development into their curriculum effectively.