INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AND NEUROTICISM TRAIT AS CORRELATES OF OUT OF SCHOOL INTENTION AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OWERRI EDUCATION ZONE II

Abstract

The study investigated inclusive education and neuroticism trait as correlates of out-of-school intention among SSS 2 students in Owerri Education Zone II. The researchers raised two research questions and formulated two hypotheses to guide the study. The design of the study was correlational survey. The sample size was a hundred and twenty people selected through multistage purposive random sampling technique. Instruments for data collection were: students’ Vulnerability Dictation Questionnaire (SVDQ); Inclusive Education Questionnaire (SIEQ) and out-of-school Intention Questionnaire (SOSIQ). The instruments were all adopted and their reliability coefficient were determined to be 0.78; 0.81 and 0.70 respectively. Through validation by specialists, from Imo State University, Faculty of Education, the instruments were confirmed usable for the present study. Data collected were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Corrlational Statistics. The hypotheses were tested by comparing the alpha level (0.05) to the probability value (.000). The finding of the study was that there was a significant relationship between inclusiveness education and out-of-school intention and that there was a significant relationship between neuroticism trait and out-of-school intention. Based on the findings, the researchers recommended that special education teachers should be employed in secondary schools to handle students with special needs because inclusive education is not functional in secondary schools in Imo State.