Gender, School type, Interest, Science, Technology, and Mathematics (STM)-based careers by Ogbonna, Nworgu and Oparah

INFLUENCE OF GENDER AND SCHOOL TYPE ON STUDENTS’ INTEREST IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND MATHEMATICS (STM)-BASED CAREERS

Mrs. Eucharia Chekwube Ogbonna*
Department of science Education,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

Prof. Loretta Ngozi Nworgu
Department of science Education,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

C. E. Oparah
Department of Linguistic and Nigerian languages,
Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Owerri

Abstract
The study investigated the influence of gender and school type on students’ interest in STM-based careers. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted survey design. The population of the study was 4859 SS1 students from 47 government secondary schools in Obollo Education zone of Enugu State, Nigeria. Proportionate stratified random sampling technique was used to obtain a sample size of 710 comprising 380 males and 330 females. 363 students were from co-educational schools while 347 students were from single-sex schools. Data were collected using STM-based Career Interest inventory (SCAII) with an internal consistency estimate of 0.90. Data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation. The result showed that gender has no influence on students’ interest in the STM-based career. Single-sex schools students had a higher interest in STM-based careers than their coeducational counterparts. Educational implications of the findings and recommendations are discussed.

Keywords: Gender, School type, Interest, Science, Technology, and Mathematics (STM)-based careers