Correlation of School’s Social Climate and Attitude toward Schooling in Osogbo Local Government Area Osun State

Abstract

Developing responsible democratic citizens requires consistent effort that fosters positive attitudes and values in students toward schooling and learning. School’s social climate has been identified as a vital factor in explaining student learning and achievement. Against this backdrop, this study examined the relationship between a school’s social climate and attitudes toward schooling among secondary school students in the Osogbo Local Government Area, Osun State, Osogbo – the capital of Osun State (well renowned for its rich cultural heritage, including arts, traditional festivals, music, and dance). Descriptive survey research design was adopted in the study. A total of 200 students randomly selected from four secondary schools participated in the study. Two sets of instruments (the Attitude towards Schooling Inventory “ATSI” and the researcher’s self-designed 10-item instrument tagged “Social Environment Measure”) were used for data collection. The instruments were validated by experts in test and measurement, while a reliability test was carried out using the test-retest method. The Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients of 0.68 (ATSI) and 0.75 (Social Environment Measure) were obtained for the two measures. The data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The hypothesis was tested at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that students generally held positive attitudes toward schooling. A significant majority (80%) acknowledged the strong influence of peer groups on their attitudes, while positive perceptions of school atmosphere and home environment also contributed notably to their schooling attitudes. Furthermore, a positive significant correlation was found between the school’s social environment and attitude toward schooling (r = 0.57, p < 0.05). Based on these results, the study recommends creating a peaceful and supportive school atmosphere, equipping schools with essential facilities and qualified teachers, and encouraging parents to foster stimulating and nurturing home environments to further enhance students' attitudes toward education.