Title: Socio-economic status and tertiary academic performance in Enugu State, Nigeria

Authors: Ambrose Nnaemeka Omeje; Ogochukwu Christiana Anyanwu; Augustine Jideofor Mba; Michael Okike Ugwu

Addresses: Department of Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria ' Department of Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria ' Department of Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria ' Department of Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

Abstract: This study examined socio-economic status and tertiary academic performance in Enugu State, Nigeria. The study utilised propensity score matching model and survey data generated from 468 questionnaires distributed among student in 13 higher institutions in the state. It was found that students' academic performances would significantly decrease with low socio-economic status. Further, low socio-economic status has negative significant impact on students' academic performance. Hence, with low socio-economic status, academic performance of students in tertiary institutions in Enugu State decreases by about 62.5% but will rise by about 37.5% if the student were to be in the upper echelon of the socio-economic strata (middle and high). The study recommended among others that there is need for the government, non-governmental organisations, and other philanthropist to provide education fund concessions such as scholarships, bursary awards, and other special education interventions funds to students from poor background.

Keywords: socio-economic status; tertiary institutions; academic performance; students; propensity score matching; methodology; cumulative gross point average; education; Enugu State; Nigeria.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2021.111654

International Journal of Education Economics and Development, 2021 Vol.12 No.1, pp.1 - 16

Received: 08 Mar 2019
Accepted: 28 Feb 2020
Published online: 07 Dec 2020 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article