User:Nasresearcher/sandbox/GENDER INFULENCE IN ENROLLMENT OF STUDENTS IN PHYSICS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA BY OKORIEIMOH CHIBUISI CHINASAOKWU

ABSTRACT This study examined gender influence on students’ enrollment in Physics in tertiary institutions in Imo State, Nigeria. These tertiary institutions were selected from the six tertiary institutions in Imo State, Nigeria. Four research questions guided the study. Data were collected using questionnaires developed by the researcher the data collected were analyzed using the percentage score. The results showed that there are gender influences on students’ enrollment in tertiary institutions. The implication is that Parents should allow their female children to go for careers of their interests. This will help them to be well focused and concentrated on a particular profession. Female encouragement to study Physics should therefore be of great concern to well meaning Nigerians, parents, teachers, policy-makers, industrialists, guidance and counseling and others who have the love of Nigerians at heart. The study recommended that special automatic scholarship should be given to female students studying physics from secondary school level to tertiary institution level. This will go along way in encouraging such In the same vein, the male student may also take their female counterparts to be very good in non-mathematical courses. These have affected the enrolment of female students in physics in tertiary institutions in Imo State. As a result of under representation and poor enrolment of female students in physics, the total number of female lecturers in physics have declined in most tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Although, they are under represented in physics, the most intriguing part is that some of them are intelligent and committed to study and lecturer physics. It is an acceptable truth that no society can reach heights of greatness unless there is an ample supply of dedicated men and women in all fields critical to its growth and development. Women’s contribution towards Nigerian’s greatness is hereby emphasized in line with the tenets of the Vision 20:20, which articulates and specifically calls for mass and functional study physics. These days few females pass physics while majority do not as a result of gender influence existing on females enrollment in physics. Many of the female student may be enrolled in tertiary institutions to study physics, but a large number may not complete the course. This common phenomenon results in the female going into other science courses like Biology, agriculture science, etc where they believe there are no too many mathematical problems. It will be difficult to have a sustainable science and technology development in tertiary institution where females no longer have interest to study physics. The problem of this study centers on the strategies to be adopted to reduce the gender influence syndrome.