International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research

Authors
Bright Okanezi, Doris Ijeoma Duru

Abstract
This paper focused on the existence of social stratification in society and its implications for the child’s education in Nigeria. Social stratification entails that societal members are hierarchically categorized into layers hence there is the upper class, middle class and lower class. This conspicuous existence of structured inequality has bearing on the allocation of rewards, privileges and resources. The inequitable distribution of resources to all societal members is a source of concern. It becomes more glaring when its implications for the education of the child is given a thought. Indeed the study found out that those of upper class are more educated, know the value of education and provide all incentives needed for the child to succeed in his educational endeavours and such encouragement yields positive results. Conversely, the lower class are poor and mostly illiterates and as such do not provide such incentives needed to boost the child’s educational endeavours. This ultimately impacts negatively on the child’s education. To this end, it was recommended among other things that the government should make social insurance more robust and expand its mandate objectives; the free education policy of the government should be implemented to the letter; Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and philanthropists should establish quality schools and make it tuition fee free for children from lower class.