The Characteristics of Sandwich Students: Implications for Academic Performance and Counselling
Chapter One
Objective of the study
This empirical study is designed to achieve the following objectives:
- To examine the effects of marital responsibility on the academic achievement of undergraduate sandwich students of the University of Abuja.,
- To determine the effects of work environment on the academic achievement of undergraduate sandwich students of the University of Abuja.,
- To evaluate the moderating roles of gender factor with regard to the effects of marital responsibility and work environment on the academic achievement of sandwich students of the University of Abuja.
CHAPTWER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Part-time student performance
Performance refers to how better the student has grasped the material to present and ready for and performed in the class. Student performance defined as the capacity of the student to perform well in education and able to fulfill the criteria in job market (Alfan et al., 2005). But, this study concentrates on part-time student’s dealing commitment with job and study to perform better in learning process. A part- time student who follows higher education, particularly after getting physical maturity, and owning responsibilities connected to family or job (Wikipedia, 2017). It is generally adapted for those who want to carry on work at the same time as studying, and usually study an afternoon or an evening every week to take classes. A study reports that part-time students’ engagement in higher education increases self-worth, motivation to learn, and job performance (Shannon et al., 2017). Part-time study in higher education is not a new trend. Therefore today in UK alone more than 24% students of higher education are studying on a part- time basis (Wikipedia, 2017). Similarly in US the strength of part-time students had risen 16% since 2004 to 2014 (NCES, 2016). A study found that students from part-time study in full-time job receive higher on average than parallel students from full-time study. Therefore, 84% of part-time students earn more than £20K as compare to 73% of full-time students (Callender et al., 2011).
Relationship between Motivation to learn and Part-time student Performance
Motivation is a basic recipe for student academic performance (Gbollie & Keamu, 2017). It plays a significant role in learning as it deeply describes student performance (Gasco et al., 2014). A research proved that motivations and tactic that students use have impact on student performance (Al Khatib, 2010). Many part-time students are engaged in work full-time and their key motivations for study are to progress their careers (Callender et al, 2010a).Though there is no difference in the possibility of students from part-time and full-time study being in a job in line with their motivations to study (Callender et al., 2011). Motivation is a positive feel to learn because if student belief lack on its ability or away from learning target, will not perform well. For example, study can automatically presume a lower concern than family or job commitments, mostly when unexpected events interfere (Evans, 1994). Therefore, motivational beliefs are crucial to the students’ academic performance because they help to resolve the level to which students will consider, put an effort, and confirm interest in the task (Mousoulides et al., 2005).
Relationship between Stress and Part-time student Performance
When a part-time student takes the responsibility of studying while doing job, there’s naturally going to be an added level of stress. Part-time higher study courses take longer time to complete and can increase pressure on top of other workload. It can be stressful running a career and perform in the study. It is not just a degree to complete, but many other things in life like, cooking, children look after, cleaning, shopping, and other essential assignments. This is a key part of concern for adult students studying part-time. A study on part-time students reported that they professed the part-time study to be stressful. Therefore, many researchers suggest that part-time
students should overcome social responsibilities and engagements in different parts of life so as to focus more on their study and employments (Taylor et al., 2010). A part-time study stated that the cost of stress consist of negative study performance, fall in cognitive ability, and incompletion of higher studies (Brown et al., 2016). There is perception among students that their educational understandings are highly stressful and have constantly scored above average on stress scales (Faro, 2013). Though limited stress is useful that can lead to better student performance but uncontrolled stress can escort to fatigue, sadness and numerous other diseases (Owusu et al., 2017). Therefore, it is essential to find the perceived level of study-related stress in the part-time student population in order to assist students in the implementation of strategies to eliminate the perceived stressors.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried out to examine the characteristics of sandwich students: implications for academic performance and counselling. Sandwich Students of University of Abuja form the population of the study.
SAMPLE SIZE DETERMINATION
A study sample is simply a systematic selected part of a population that infers its result on the population. In essence, it is that part of a whole that represents the whole and its members share characteristics in like similitude (Udoyen, 2019). In this study, the researcher adopted the convenient sampling method to determine the sample size.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of two hundred and thirty-three (233) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which all 233 were returned and validated. This was the research recovered the questionnaire on the spot.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Introduction
This chapter summarizes the findings on the characteristics of sandwich students: implications for academic performance and counselling, University of Abuja as case study. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.
Summary of the Study
In this study, our focus was on the characteristics of sandwich students: implications for academic performance and counselling, University of Abuja as case study. The study is was specifically focused on examining the effects of marital responsibility on the academic achievement of undergraduate sandwich students of the University of Abuja, determining the effects of work environment on the academic achievement of undergraduate sandwich students of the University of Abuja., and evaluating the moderating roles of gender factor with regard to the effects of marital responsibility and work environment on the academic achievement of sandwich students of the University of Abuja.
The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 233 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are sandwich students of University of Abuja.
Conclusions
With respect to the analysis and the findings of this study, the following conclusions emerged;
- That marital responsibility and work environment significantly affects the academic achievement of sandwich undergraduate student of the University of Abuja.
- Gender difference has nothing to do with variations in the effects of the two variables on sandwich students’ academic achievement.
Implications for Counselling
The establishment of community counselling clinics is essential because of the enormous pressure on sandwich students as they perform their multiple roles. They need counselling on strategies to help them develop coping skills in their attempts to obtain more education and acquire higher certificates as husbands, wives, fathers, mothers and civil servants.
In addition, institutions of higher learning require well-established counselling centres to meet the psychological needs of married sandwich undergraduates while undergoing academic activities on campus.
Recommendation
Based on the findings the researcher recommends that;
- It is recommended that sandwich students especially married ones (who constitutes about 63% of this study) should as a matter of practice, visit counselling clinics in their communities and campuses.
- Counselling should involve strategies for proper time management, effective study skills and good reading culture.
- Above all, the sandwich programme should be made more flexible in terms of lecture schedule to accommodate individual peculiarities.
- Examination and marking schemes should be structured to tolerate students’ constraints without compromising minimum academic standards.
References
- Allan, C.O. (1977). An introduction to the foundations of Education. U.S.A: Rand Mc Mally Education Series. College Publishing Company.
- Federal Republic of Nigeria (2013). National Policy on Education. Yaba – Lagos; NERDC Press. P. 34.
- Jegede, O. (2002). National Open University. Opening address by the National Co-Ordinator. Njoku, D.O. (1996). Factors militating against sandwich in institutions of higher learning in the Eastern States of Nigeria. Journal of Education. Vol. 1(2), pp 210 – 213.
- Ogunsanmi, J.O. (2001). Employment and Marital adjustment among married women in Ekiti State of Nigeria. Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
- Tsokar, K. & Okeke, J. (2014). How to Promote Sustainable Development in West Africa. The Guardian, Tuesday, February, 25.