Influence of Socioeconomic Factors on School Dropout and Insecurity in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State

This study sets out to examine the nexus between socioeconomic factors, school dropouts and insecurity in Calabar South local government area of Cross River State, Nigeria. The research design adopted for the study is the descriptive survey research. Using purposeful sampling procedure, a sample of 291 participants were selected from Anantigha, Bayside, Afokang and Idang, Insidung, Edibedibe communities in the study area. The reason for using this sampling technique within these communities is because these are the flashpoint where insecurity is most pronounced. Two research questions were formulated and transformed into two null hypotheses. The instrument for data collection is the researcher designed structured questionnaire titled. Socioeconomic factors, school dropouts and insecurity questionnaire (SFSDIQ) with a four point likert scale response options of strongly agree, agree, disagree and strongly disagree. Using the Cronbach alpha reliability estimate, the coefficient ranged between 0.75-0.80. The instrument was administered by the researcher and five trained field assistance. Data obtained was analyzed using simple percentage and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis at 289 degree of freedom and 0.05 significance levels. The simple percentage analysis result for question 1 shows that 178 respondents representing 61.4% agreed that socioeconomic factors influence student’s dropout from schools, while 113 respondents (38.6%) disagreed that socioeconomic factors cannot influence students dropping out of schools. The result on table 2 also revealed that 202 respondents representing 69.4% agreed that dropping out of school can be a catalyst to insecurity, while 89 respondents, representing 30.6% disagreed that there is no way dropping out of school can influence insecurity in Calabar South. The result of the Pearson Product Correlation analyses on table 3 and 4 revealed that there is a significant relationship between socioeconomic factors and school dropouts, and insecurity in Calabar South. It was concluded that socioeconomic factors influence school dropout thereby orchestrating insecurity in Calabar South. It was recommended among others that government should make education more affordable for the poor, while churches should use the money they build skyscrapers as worship centers to build functional schools for the masses.

Keywords: Socioeconomic factors, school dropout, insecurity, poverty, unemployment and family income