ABSTRACT
This study analyzed the Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Student Enrollment in Vocational Agricultural Programs in University of Benin. Four research questions were raised to guide the study. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consists of one thousand five hundred and fifty five (1555) Students from the Faculty of Agriculture University of Benin, Benin City. The simple random sampling technique was employed to select 317 students from the faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City using the Taro Yamane Formular. The research instrument used in the study was a four point likert scale questionnaire developed by the researcher, the instrument was validated by the researcher's supervisor, the reliability of the instrument was determined by administering 20 questionnaires to respondents who were not part of the study and a reliability coefficient of 0.73 was obtained. The questionnaire was administered and retrieved by the researcher, the data collected was collated and analyzed using descriptive statistics.The findings of this study showed that Family socioeconomic status, parental education, cultural norms, access to educational resources, financial accessibility and perception of prestige are the socio economic factors influencing student enrollment in vocational agricultural programs at the University of Benin and that Individual student motivations and perceptions regarding vocational agricultural programs at the University of Benin interact with socioeconomic factors to influence enrollment decisions. The findings of this study also showed that Financial constraints, lack of information, misconceptions, societal stigma, and family expectations are significant barriers to enrollment in vocational agricultural programs at the University of Benin and that Financial assistance, proactive outreach, comprehensive counseling, community engagement, experiential learning, flexible scheduling, mentorship, and continuous improvement are seen as effective strategies for overcoming barriers and enhancing enrollment in vocational agricultural programs at the University of Benin. This study recommended that the university should increase the availability of scholarships, grants, and other financial aid initiatives to alleviate the financial burden on students, making vocational agricultural programs more accessible and that the University should implement targeted outreach programs in collaboration with secondary schools, community organizations, and industry partners to raise awareness about the benefits and opportunities in vocational agriculture. This study further recommended that the University should provide comprehensive counseling services to help students understand the career prospects in agriculture and guide them in making informed decisions about their education and engage with local communities, agricultural organizations, and industry stakeholders to create partnerships that support the vocational agricultural programs and provide students with practical learning opportunities.
