AN ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT TRAVEL CHARACTERISTICS AND DISTANCE IMPLICATIONS OF PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS DISTRIBUTION IN JOS NORTH LGA, NIGERIA

Abstract

The spatial distribution of public secondary schools can substantially influence students’ travel burden and
access to education, particularly in rapidly urbanising contexts. This study examines the relationship between
distribution of public secondary school and student travel characteristics in Jos North Local Government Area
(LGA), Plateau State, Nigeria. A mixed-methods design integrated questionnaire surveys and road-network
analysis. Data were collected from 416 administrative wards selected from a sampling frame of 4,300 blocks.
Findings indicate that walking is the dominant travel mode (61%), with an average walking time of 31 minutes,
while 16% cycle, 13% use private automobiles and 10% use public transport. Although 84% of residential
areas fall within a 2-km school proximity buffer, network-based analysis reveals substantial spatial disparities,
with average travel distance of 1.5 km and longer journeys concentrated in peripheral wards. The road
network exhibits limited connectivity and route alternatives, reflected in Beta and Gamma indices of 0.953 and
0.318, respectively. Travel burden is associated with absenteeism (33%), fatigue (31%) and lateness (31%).
Binary logistic regression further identifies a significant relationship between distance to school and
enrolment, with a model classification accuracy of 76.3%. The study concludes that proximity-based measures
alone inadequately capture educational accessibility. It recommends network-based school planning,
prioritisation of underserved areas, improved pedestrian connectivity, safer school-access corridors, and
integrated education–transport planning.