Effect of mixed-sex play on pupils’ attitudes towards schooling in public and private schools in Oyo state, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined how mixed-sex play affected students' attitudes toward schooling in both private and state primary schools in Oyo State, Nigeria. Participants in a pre-test, post-test control group quasi-experimental research design with a 2x2 factorial matrix were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. For eight weeks, participants met for a weekly one-hour session. Using the Pupil Attitude Questionnaire, data were gathered. The significance level used to evaluate the results was.05. Utilizing Analysis of Covariance, data were examined. The study's findings showed a substantial treatment effect on pupils' attitudes toward schooling (F (1,149) = 340.567; p < .05), with students in the mixed-sex play group showing the greatest improvement. Additionally, it was discovered that treatment and school type had a two-way interaction impact (F (1,149) = 4.445; p < .05). No significant school type effect (F (1,149) = 2.093; p > .05) was observed. It was concluded that mixed-sex play has significant effect on attitudes towards schooling among primary school pupils and that same was influenced by school type. It was therefore recommended that while mixed-sex play could be used with gains in public schools, efforts should be made to see how it could be significantly deployed to the advantage of private school pupils.