Right to Education and Access to Schooling: Understanding the Role of Students’ Transportation Challenges in Selected Junior Secondary Schools in Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Students’ right to education and access to schooling are greatly influenced by transportation. However, instead of promoting access transportation may be a barrier when inadequate. This study examined the effect of transportation challenges on students’ right to education and access to schooling focusing on junior secondary schools in Ilorin, Nigeria. Data were collected from 370 students from four schools through questionnaire survey. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to examine the relationship between the students’ transportation challenges and their socio-demographic characteristics. Main transportation challenges are high cost of transportation (25.4%), struggling with other commuters (18.4%) and long waiting at bus stop (15.4%). The Pearson correlation show a positive linear relationship between transport challenges and their socio-demographic factors [r (368) = .012, p = .05]. Transport challenges had strong positive lineal relationship with residence with biological parents, sex and parents’ occupation. Recommendations include the need for government investment in urban mass transit and subsidized transportation for students.