EMPIRICAL VERIFICATION OF GENDER DISPARITY IN THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF UNDERRADUATES IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY

Abstract

Cursory observation of the academic performance of undergraduate students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria seems that female students are normally collecting prizes and awards and outperform their male counterparts. If this gender disparity in the academic performance of undergraduates should be allowed to continue, it could portend danger to human capital development of the country. This study therefore examined gender and trends of undergraduates’ academic performance in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akugba Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. The study adopted ex-post facto research design. The study adopted census population. All the graduates from nine faculties and institutes of the University for 2023, 2024 and 2025 sessions constituted the sample. A proforma was used to record the class of degrees of all the graduates in the three years from the convocation brochure (order of proceedings). Data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings from the study revealed that male and female AAUA undergraduates’ academic performances for the past three years were average and fluctuating. Majority of the male and female undergraduates fell into second class lower division. There was a significant difference in the academic performance of male and female undergraduates in favour of females. The study concluded that the performance of male and female undergraduates is average and fluctuating. Female students outperform their male counterparts academically. It was recommended among others that counsellors and other stakeholders in education need to examine and find solutions to some of the things that distract male students attention from their studies.