Effect of School Location on Vocational Education Enrolment in Oyo State

This study examined the effect of school location, specifically urban versus rural settings, on student enrolment in vocational education in Oyo State, South West Nigeria. Rural-urban disparities in educational resources and social attitudes toward vocational training have long been noted in Nigerian education literature, but location-specific enrolment data at the state level remain sparse. A descriptive survey design was employed, with data collected from 50 secondary schools (25 urban, 25 rural) across five local government areas. School principals and vocational teachers provided enrolment statistics and answered structured questionnaires on resource availability and community perceptions. Results showed that urban schools recorded significantly higher vocational enrolment rates, attributable to better workshop facilities, more qualified teachers, and stronger industry linkages. Rural schools cited transportation challenges, parental preference for white-collar career paths, and cultural factors as deterrents. The study recommends that the Oyo State Ministry of Education invest in a rural vocational education upgrade programme, including infrastructure grants, qualified teacher postings, and community liaison officers to engage rural parents. Mobile vocational training units should be piloted in areas where fixed schools are inaccessible. These findings have direct policy implications for addressing spatial inequalities in vocational education provision across southwestern Nigeria. Keywords: school location, vocational enrolment, Oyo State, rural-urban disparity, South West Nigeria.