SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS, SCHOOL LOCATION, NO FENCES, UNMANNED GATES AND LACK OF SECURITY PERSONNEL AS DETERMINANTS OF INSECURITY IN SECONDARY SCHOOL IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the determinants of insecurity among in-school adolescents in Oyo State, Nigeria, with particular emphasis on socio-economic status, school location, no fences, unmanned gates and lack of security personnel. The study investigated how selected determinants jointly and independently influence the insecurity among in-school adolescents. The study adopted a descriptive research design of correlational type. The population comprised secondary school students within public schools in Oyo State. A representative sample was selected using simple random sampling of 314 respondents. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire designed to measure socio-economic status, school location, no fences, unmanned gates and lack of security personnel and insecurity of in-school adolescents. The instrument was validated and reliability was established using standard statistical procedures. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, and multiple regression analysis to answer the research questions. Findings revealed that socio-economic status, school location, no fences, unmanned gates and lack of security personnel were significantly related to in-security among in-school adolescents. School location emerged as a strongest predictor of insecurity among in-school adolescents, followed by no fences, lack of security personnel, unmanned gate and socio-economic status in that order. The joint contribution of socio-economic status, school location, no fences, unmanned gates and lack of security personnel significantly predicted insecurity among in-school adolescents, while each variable also made meaningful relative contributions. The study concluded that insecurity among in-school adolescents in Oyo State is not solely dependent on the presence of insecurity but is strongly influenced by socio-economic status, school location, no fences, unmanned gates and lack of security personnel as determinants surrounding the student. The study therefore recommends that parents should send their child or ward to school in urban location, government and education stake holders should make sure that school are fenced up and that security personnel should be employed to guide schools.

Keywords: Socio-Economic Status, school Location, Unmanned Gates, Lack of Security Personnel, Insecurity.