PREDICTORS OF MUSIC EDUCATION APATHY AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS: IMPLICATIONS ON DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL ECONOMY

Abstract

This study focused on predictors of music education apathy among secondary school students in Port Harcourt metropolis, Nigeria. The study hoped to resolve the problem of the study which was the unenthusiastic attitude of students towards the study of music education in schools, the failures in music as a subject and the skipping of music classes often experienced by the teacher in schools in the area. The study had three specific objectives, research questions and corresponding hypotheses. The population of the study consisted of 2,132 Senior Secondary School 1 (SSS1) students in private secondary schools in Port Harcourt metropolis. From the population, a sample of 60 respondents was drawn using multi-stage sampling procedure. Two instruments used in collecting data for the study were the “Factors Influencing Music Education Apathy Questionnaire” (FIMEAQ) and the “Correlates of Music Apathy Questionnaire” (COMAQ). Validity of the instruments was determined by giving the instruments to experts in measurement and evaluation for vetting while the reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha method with a reliability index of 0.86. Method of data collection was on face to face basis while the method of data analysis included the independent t-test, analysis of variance as well as simple regression analysis. Results showed that educational qualification (p=0.03<0.05), career prospect (p=0.021<0.05) and teacher’s teaching method (p=0.034<0.05) had significant influence and relationship relatively with music apathy among SS1 students. On the contrary, economic status (p=0.45>0.05) had no significant influence on music apathy among SS1 students. Based on this, it was recommended among others that government as well as private school stakeholders should ensure that they hire music teachers with Nigerian certificate in education (NCE) or first degree in music education since this was found to influence the level of interest students have for music education.