THE USE OF ENTRY GRADE TO PREDICT STUDENT’S ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN WARRI COLLEGE OF NURSING IN DELTA STATE

Abstract

The study examined the use of entry grades to predict Warri College of Nursing students’ academic success in Delta State. Two research questions and two hypotheses directed the investigation. The study adopted a correlational research method. A sample of 130 midwifery students was used from a population of 650 students in college of nursing, Warri Delta State. The instrument for data collection were SSSCE (WAEC, NECO) grades, entrance examination and nursing students cumulative grade point average (CGPA). The instrument did not under go any further validity and reliability as validation was already taken care of. The statistical method for data analysis was Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and linear regression in SPSS version 23. The PPMCC were used for the research questions while hypotheses were tested using Linear regression and Fisher-z statistics at 0.05 alpha level. The findings showed a weak positive and significant relationship between entry grades and academic success of Delta State college of nursing (midwifery) students in Warri. The finding also revealed a no significant relationship between entry grades and academic success of Delta State college of midwifery students in Warri for male and female students. It was recommended that nursing schools should adopt a holistic admission process like interviews since entry grades alone do not significantly predict student success, Society and relevant stakeholders should promote gender equity since male and female students were affected by the weak predictive power of entry grades. This includes addressing and encouraging male participation in a female-dominated profession.