Some school and socio-economic factors influencing the level of political socialisation among students in certain secondary schools in the Corporate Area of Kingston, Jamaica

Abstract

This study sought to test the level of political socialization in young people attending secondary grammar and technical schools, who were on the point of graduating. The dependent variables used to examine levels of political socialization were: political cognition, tolerance, commitment to the political system, and self-efficacy. These were analysed in terms of socio-economic status of students, curriculum, and organization of the school. Data were collected from a questionnaire completed by 304 students, ranging in age from 15 to 19 years, from eight government secondary schools in Kingston and St. Andrew, Jamaica, representing a broad spectrum of urban society. Results of the data analysis revealed that: 1) curriculum positively influenced tolerance in two schools, commitment to the political system in five schools, and self-efficacy in three schools; 2) school organization appeared to have a significant influence on commitment to the political system in three schools and self-efficacy in five schools; and 3) socio-economic status related inversely to political socialization variables, indicating that students of lower socio-economic status had higher levels of political socialization