The influence of age and gender on academic achievement scores of students: A case study analysis of Utagba-Ogbe technical college, Kwale delta state, Nigeria

Academic achievement of students have attracted attention of scholars, parents, policy makers and planners. The major goal of the school is to work towards attainment of academic excellence by students. It was belief that academic success could be strongly and positively related to students’ age at entrance to school. Thus the study investigated the influence of age and gender on academic achievement scores of students: A case study analysis of Utagba-Ogbe technical college, Kwale, Delta State. Three research questions was formulated and one research hypothesis tested at 0.05 level of significance guided the study. The survey research design was adopted and the study was conducted in Delta state, Nigeria. The target population was 106 students from both the sexes (63 males and 43 females) 2019/2020 graduates of a technical college. The National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) final year results, showing age and gender were collected from the school Principal’s office, Utagba–Ogbe Technical College, Kwale, and was used for the study.  Multiple Regression, ANOVA and Chi Square were statistical tools used for data analysis. Findings of the study revealed that a relationship does not exist between the two predictor variables and the technical college students’ academic achievement scores and that their combined contribution is insignificant. However, the study revealed differences in the students’ academic achievement scores as a result of chronological age and gender quality. Based on the empirical outcomes of the study, the researcher concluded that age and gender have positive influence on the academic achievement scores of technical college students.  The researcher recommended that teachers, teaching in technical college should adopt practical oriented teaching methods that would be of great benefit to the students not minding their gender or age differences. Also, the stakeholders of education should make available necessary instructional devices needed to ensure efficiency in teaching and permanency in learning technical subjects among students of different age and gender.