Open AccessUndergraduates' Perception of (STEM) Education as a Tool for Enhancing Economic Development in Sokoto State, Nigeria
Author(s) -
Suleiman Sa’adu Matazu
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of scientific research in science, engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2395-1990
pISSN - 2394-4099
DOI - 10.32628/ijsrset218431
Subject(s) - cronbach's alpha , globe , perception , state (computer science) , psychology , medical education , politics , economic growth , political science , medicine , computer science , developmental psychology , economics , algorithm , neuroscience , psychometrics , law
Economic development appears to be a major challenge confronting nations and individuals across the globe in recent times. Economic development is the process by which a nation improves the economic, political, and social well-being of its people. Nigeria which is tagged as the giant of Africa, and also endowed with numerous natural and human resources, is still battling with the menace of economic under development particularly Sokoto state. This paper therefore, examined the perception of undergraduates on (STEM) education as a tool for enhancing economic development. The study employed a quantitative research design, with a sample of 200 undergraduate students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS). The sampled students were randomly selected from four programs of study. A questionnaire containing (12) items, entitled Perception of Undergraduates on STEM for Enhancing Economic Development (PUSEEED) was utilized in collecting data for the study. The instrument was content validated by 3 experts. The reliability index of 0.82 was calculated for the instrument using the Cronbach Alpha. The result of the study indicated that the undergraduates appreciated the introduction of STEM education as a tool for enhancing economic development and they looked forward to actively participating in the program once it is practically integrated into their programs. It was recommended among others that STEM education should be incorporated into the entrepreneurial programs of Nigerian universities especially in Sokoto state, Nigeria for meaningful economic development.