Out of School Youths in Ibadan: Its Psychological implication and the Way Out

Abstract

The identification of young persons who have been to school but had left at various stages of the education cycle was part of the focus of this investigation. The study also found out the factors predicating school dropout with a concomitant discussion on some possible ways for ameliorating the phenomena Three research methodologies which are interviews, focus group discussion and opinion survey were conducted using 827 participants purposively sampled from University of Ibadan community, Eleyele, Agbowo, and Sango areas. The participants age range was between 15 and 38 years while their mean age was 25.87 years. The study revealed that approximately thirty-eight (37.6%) of all the youths attended and finished secondary school education. Sixty-five percent and 84.94% indicated that they were neither happy nor satisfied with their present status. Since school dropout creates mental agonies, psychological traumatization and self-esteem difficulties for the youths, part of the recommendation was that the provision of education to children of ages 1-18 years should be the direct responsibility of the Federal government ,and should not be politicized. The junior second school (JSS) curriculum should be made functional and practical.


(IFE PsychologIA: 2003 11 (1): 46-60)