Spatial Analysis of Journey to school by school students in Minna, Nigeria

Abstract

Education infrastructure planning is an integral part of society amidst the rapid urbanisation experienced in Nigerian cities. This study analysed the Journey to the School of public and private secondary school students in Minna, Nigeria. The study's objectives were to examine the spatial analysis of public and private secondary schools and the distance covered by the students from home to school in Minna. Quantitative data were collected from 8422 students in 107 schools comprising 20 public and 87 private secondary schools. Data collected were corroborated with geographic information analysis. The study reveals that the average distance covered (2.70km) by students attending public schools is more than the distance covered (2.07km) by students attending private secondary schools. The study further reveals that 53.19% of the students in public schools travel more than 2 km to school daily, but with the inclusion of private schools, the percentage of students travelling above 2 km to school daily was reduced by 10%. The study concludes that the cluster and the random distribution in private and public secondary schools are indications of poor education infrastructure planning. The study, therefore, recommends proper education infrastructure planning and that public schools should be provided in neighbourhoods where students travel more than 5 km daily to access secondary education.