ASSESSMENT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND SKILL ACQUISITION FOR EMPLOYABILITY (A CASE STUDY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN)

ABSTRACT

This study aims to identify the variables influencing students' selection of business education programmes at Edo State's public institutions. The population for this study includes 416 full-time students enrolled in 100- to 400-level business education courses at the Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin City. The research used a descriptive survey approach.. For the purposes of this study, 200 students were chosen as the sample size. A structured questionnaire was employed as the research instrument to gather data for the study, and the respondents' answers were analysed based on variables such the parents' socioeconomic status, the effect of their peer group, the parents' attitude, and the kids' interests. The supervisor of the researcher determined the validity of the instrument and used mean and standard deviation to analyse the questionnaire. The results show that students' choice of business education programme at Edo State's public institutions is influenced by their parents' socioeconomic status. The researcher advises parents not to force their children to pursue careers for which they lack the necessary skills, abilities, interests, or aptitude in light of these findings.