A comparative analysis of gender trend in academic achievement among history graduates of a University in Nigeria

Abstract

Given gender as properties that distinguish organisms based on their reproductive roles as female or male, these properties have been argued to have discrepancies in the learning abilities of males and females. Therefore, this study analysed gender and academic achievement trend of graduates in History Studies from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, from 2019 to 2021. This study adopted ex post facto research design within a census population. 1,491 male and female graduates of History Education from the Faculty of Education and History and International Studies from the Faculty of Arts from 2019 to 2021 were used as the sample. Therefore, the Order of Proceedings of the University of Ilorin for 2019, 2020, and 2021 was used for data collection. The data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics, such as bar charts and percentages, to answer research questions, and inferential statistics, such as the independent t-test for the hypothesis at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings from this study revealed that the trend of academic achievement among male graduates with 2nd-Class-Upper and Lower was upward, while the proportion of males with 3rd Class and Pass was downward. The trend of academic achievement among female graduates with 2nd-Class-Upper, 2nd-Class-Lower, and Pass was upward, while the trend for 3rd-Class was downward. Additionally, there was no statistically significant difference in the academic achievement of male and female graduates from the University of Ilorin. Therefore, it is recommended that male and female students should take their studies and courses seriously, among other recommendations.