SOCIAL STRATIFICATION AND EDUCATION: CONSEQUENCES FOR NIGERIA

Social stratification shows the presence of distinct groups which are ranked into identifiable layers in hierarchical order using factors such as prestige, wealth, occupation, political power, ethnic group and so on. Okeke (2002) opined that societal members do not equally enjoy social, economic and political opportunities. This means that the benefits enjoyed by a person in society, is largely dependent on the social position he or she occupies.

Using Nigeria as an example, social stratification is the arrangement in a hierarchical order, groups of people into strata based on their prestige, wealth, occupation, political power and ethnic group. This arrangement on the social ladder is not fixed as there is upward and downward movements on the ladder. Those who are down the ladder strive to improve their socioeconomic status by either going to school, or venturing into business to enhance their social positions while those at the top will continuously strive to remain there.

Looking at the prevailing situation in Nigeria, those with the political power like the big business men/women are at the top of the ladder. Okeke (2002) asserts that they are easily identified by the expensive type of buildings in which they live. They ride the choicest cars, send their children to the most expensive schools, visit the best hospitals and enjoy luxuries. 

They also are at the top positions in their respective professions which include Law, Medicine, Engineering and the like.
There exist another set of educated people who are okay but not yet at the top. They can afford to acquire the essential things of life for their families. These are also professionals who work but strive to get a better life. They live in moderately sized buildings they struggled to build. They are referred to as the middle class.

Another class comprising of semiskilled and unskilled labour force exist. They make a living from whatever little income they make and so would rather stay in smaller apartments with cheaper rent without a care for environment or the availability of basic facilities. These people include cleaners, guards, unemployed, petty traders and the like. Children of these people make do with public schools or ill equipped private schools.   
The Educational Consequences Of Social Stratification
The educational consequences of social stratification will be analyzed under the following headings.

• Parents socioeconomic status
• Material and financial requirement
• Parental intent and encouragement
• Social environment

Parent’s socioeconomic status
Children of the rich are predisposed to attending better schools with better facilities to enhance learning. This is because children of those lower the ladder cannot afford to attend good schools with qualified teachers due to the socioeconomic status of parents. Also, children of parents with high socioeconomic status tend to have higher educational achievement as the right environment for learning is created at home.

With the availability of home tutors and other instructional materials which money can pay for, the environment is definitely created. The reverse is the case with children born to parents with lower socioeconomic status, who need all the cash they can get to provide food, shelter and basic clothing for the immediate family. This leaves no room for expensive schools, tutors or any other thing that might be instrumental to better educational achievement. Any school would just do. Thus, the higher the socioeconomic status of a parent, the higher the pupils school achievement.

Material and financial requirement

The huge gap in the socioeconomic status of parents in the upper and lower class creates a difference in the rate at which needs of children are met. Children born to wealthy parents have more at their disposal to place them at a more advantageous position than children born to middle class or lower class students. When the needs of children are met, distraction from peer and other pressures are eliminated resulting in a higher concentration level. 

This is unlike a child from the lower class, who has to work after school hours and face a lot of distraction and as such do not give all the necessary attention to their education as it demands.
The child from parents with good financial capability is motivated to work hard as fees are paid on time but truancy is likely in children of parents without adequate financial capability to cater for their academics. Fees are not paid on time causing children to roam the streets.

Parent’s interest and encouragement

Interest and encouragement shown in the form of visits made by parents to schools during open days can go a long way to motivate children to work harder to please their parents. Also, when parents take time to check their children’s books and help them with their home work, the kids are encouraged to do more. And because those higher up the ladder know the importance of education in the placement of their wards on the social ladder, the do all it takes to ensure this.  This is not the case with parents in the lower class as they barely have time for home work due exhaustion from the day’s work. Neither do they have time for open day so their children are not motivated to work hard as there is no one to impress.

Social environment

The different kinds of environment kids find themselves due to the socioeconomic status of their parents tend to affect educational achievement. One major benefit is the exchange of ideas and knowledge prevalent in an environment of educated and enlightened people. This motivates children of such people to strive, to be like or outperform their parents. 

The result is that children born to such category of people tend to take their academics seriously. With children from the lower class, motivation is basically an individual thing as the environment does not do much in that aspect. Found in the environment of the lower class are petty fights and disputes and, this does not engender high academic achievement. 

References
Okeke, E. C. (2002) Sociology of Education: Concepts and Applications. Owerri,
              Springfield publishers