Managing Inequality of Educational Opportunity on Inclusive Educational Services in Kaduna South Educational Zone, Kaduna State

Abstract

This study investigated managing inequality of educational opportunity on inclusive educational services in Kaduna South Educational Zone, Kaduna State. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The descriptive survey research design was used for this study. The population of the study consisted of all the 118 public secondary school principals in Kaduna South Educational Zone, Kaduna State. A sample size of 118 principals in these schools were used. Census sampling technique was used for the study. The instrument that was used for data collection in this study was a 10-item questionnaire titled: Managing Inequality of Educational Opportunity on Inclusive Educational Services in Kaduna South Educational Zone Questionnaire” (MIEOIESKSEZQ). Cronbach alpha statistics was used to obtain 0.76 reliability. The mean scores and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while the z-test statistics was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The result amongst others revealed that, the factors responsible for widening inequality of educational opportunity on inclusive educational services in Kaduna South Educational Zone are related to unequal distribution of educational opportunities as a result of gender disparities, wrong standard of educational practice regarding those with unavoidable disabilities, socio-economic factors in relation to the social classes of people, socio-cultural perceptions which influence household decisions on schooling and religious practices which influence household decisions on schooling. It was recommended that, Government and society entirely should continuously fight every wrong standard of educational practice regarding those with unavoidable disabilities and other issues relating to socio-economic, religious, cultural, location and gender issues that deliberately deprive individuals the opportunity of attending schools.