Unemployment and Students’ Commitment to Studies in Delta State Tertiary Institutions

Abstract

This research was a survey that investigated the influence of unemployment on the commitment of tertiary institution students to studies in Delta State, Nigeria. Two questionnaires, one administered to a random sample of 108 lecturers, and the other to a random sample of 2823 students were used to generate data for the study. Data were sorted out into ‘Agree’ and ‘Disagree’ frequency counts and analyzed using percentage and the chi-square. The findings were that 35% of lecturers perceive that unemployment reduces students’ commitment to studies, whereas 65% of lecturers perceive that unemployment does not reduce students’ commitment to studies. These two perceptions were subjected to a statistical test of significant difference using the chi-square, and it was found that the difference was significant, or not due to chance. The conclusion was that lecturers perceive that unemployment has no significant demotivating influence on students’ commitment to studies. 4% of the students believe that unemployment reduces students’ commitment to studies, whereas 96% believe that unemployment does not reduce students’ commitment to studies. These two beliefs were again subjected to a statistical test of significant difference using the chi-square, and it was found that the difference was significant, or not due to chance. The conclusion was that students believe that unemployment has no significant demotivating influence on students’ commitment to studies. The finding implies that these students value education beyond the job opportunities it offers. This is a motive that promotes the acquisition of the desired skill and knowledge that education bestows. It was recommended that government should reduce the cost of producing goods and providing services by ensuring regular power supply and by providing good roads. This will create a better economic environment for these students to put their skills and knowledge to use in that on graduation, they will find it easier to be self-employed and even create jobs for others. It will also give existing business concerns leverage to generate more jobs.

Keywords: Students- Commitments; Unemployment; Delta State ; Economic Environment; Graduation; Self-employed