Influence of Early Childhood Education on Social Adjustment of Primary School Pupils in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the influence of Early Childhood Education on Social Adjustment of Primary School Pupils in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Descriptive research design was used for the study. The population was 20,920 and a sample of 378 pupils was used for the study. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to compose the sample. Two research questions were answered while two hypotheses were tested in the study at 0.05 level of significance. One instrument was used to collect data about the pupils- Questionnaire on Early Childhood Education and Social Adjustment Level of Pupils (QECESA). The instrument is divided into two sections; section A and B. Section A contain Biodata of pupils of those who attended Nursery Education and those who did not attend Nursery Education. Section B contain items of the influence of Early Childhood on Self-efficacy and Social phobia. Mean and Standard Deviation was used to answer the research questions, and t-test was used to test the hypotheses. It was found that there is significant differences in the self-efficacy of pupils who attended nursery education and those who did not in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. It also revealed that there is significant difference of social phobia between pupils who attended nursery education and those who did not in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others- that Counselling Psychologist and teachers to pay attention to enhance pupils’ self-efficacy as it enables pupils to develop positive life and academic discuss. The study concluded that early childhood education led to better educational outcomes and help pupils to manage their self-efficacy.