Affirmative Strategies to Reduce Male Child Disparities in Basic School in Imo State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT: This paper had four objectives and research questions each. The study adopted descriptive research design. The population comprised all basic education students and parents in Imo State, while the target population is all basic students and parents in Orlu Senatorial zone in the state. The study sample comprised 621 respondents drawn from 12 LGAs ( Local Government Areas ) in Orlu Senatorial zone. Multi-stage sampling technique involving simple random sampling, proportional, and stratified sampling techniques were used to select the respondents. The data was gathered with the aid of a questionnaire, which was validated by experts in Research, Measurement, and Evaluation. The reliability coefficient was tested using test-retest and the reliability coefficient was 0.71, indicating that the instrument was highly reliable. The data was, then, subjected to percentages, mean, and standard deviation. The results of the analysis showed the introduction of school feeding programme, free school transportation to and from school, provision of free textbooks, periodic issuance of stipends to students, and provision of free school uniforms and bags. As a result of these affirmative strategies in basic education, the enrolment, participation, and completion rates in basic education have now tremendously increased. The paper concludes that the affirmative strategies adopted by Imo State government in Nigeria could be adjudged to have paid off. It, therefore, recommends amongst others things that the practice should be sustained. KEY WORD: Affirmative Strategies; Male Child Disparities; Basic School Enrolment. RESUME : “Strategi Afirmatif untuk Mengurangi Disparitas Anak Laki-Laki di Sekolah Dasar di Negara Bagian Imo, Nigeria”. Makalah ini memiliki empat tujuan dan pertanyaan penelitian masing-masing. Penelitian mengadopsi desain penelitian deskriptif. Populasi terdiri dari semua siswa dan orang tua dari pendidikan dasar di Negara Bagian Imo, sedangkan populasi target adalah semua siswa dan orang tua dari pendidikan dasar di zona Senatorial Orlu di negara bagian. Sampel penelitian terdiri 621 responden yang diambil dari 12 LGA (Wilayah Pemerintah Daerah) di zona Senatorial Orlu. Teknik pengambilan sampel multi-tahap yang melibatkan pengambilan sampel acak sederhana, proporsional, dan stratifikasi digunakan untuk memilih responden. Data dikumpulkan dengan bantuan kuesioner, yang divalidasi oleh para ahli dalam Penelitian, Pengukuran, dan Evaluasi. Koefisien reliabilitas diuji menggunakan test-test ulang dan koefisien reliabilitas 0.71, menunjukkan bahwa instrumen tersebut sangat handal. Data itu, kemudian, dikenakan persentase, rata-rata, dan standar deviasi. Hasil analisis menunjukkan adanya pengenalan program pemberian makanan di sekolah, transportasi sekolah gratis ke dan dari sekolah, penyediaan buku teks gratis, jaminan uang saku untuk siswa secara berkala, dan pemberian seragam sekolah dan tas gratis. Sebagai hasil dari strategi afirmatif dalam pendidikan dasar ini, maka angka pendaftaran, partisipasi, dan penyelesaian dalam pendidikan dasar sekarang telah sangat meningkat. Makalah ini menyimpulkan bahwa strategi afirmatif yang diadopsi oleh pemerintah Negara Bagian Imo di Nigeria dapat dinilai telah dipenuhi. Karena itu, ia merekomendasikan di antara hal-hal lain bahwa praktek ini harus dipertahankan. KATA KUNCI : Strategi Afirmatif; Kesenjangan Anak Laki-laki; Pendaftaran Sekolah Dasar. About the Author: Ifeoma P. Okafor, Ph.D. is a Lecturer at the Department of Social Sciences Education, Faculty of Education UNILORIN (University of Ilorin), Ilorin, Nigeria. For academic interests, the Author is able to be contacted via e-mail address at: ifeomapokafor@gmail.com Suggested Citation: Okafor, Ifeoma P. (2020). “Affirmative Strategies to Reduce Male Child Disparities in Basic School in Imo State, Nigeria” in SOSIOHUMANIKA: Jurnal Pendidikan Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan , Volume 13(1), May, pp.45-54. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Press owned by ASPENSI with ISSN 1979-0112 (print) and ISSN 2622-6855 (online). Article Timeline : Accepted (March 11, 2020); Revised (April 30, 2020); and Published (May 30, 2020).