EFFECT OF
EDUCATIONAL STATUS OF PARENTS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SELECTED FIVE
SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OSHODI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF LAGOS STATE
ABSTRACT
The study examined the Effect
of educational status of parents on students academic performance in selected
five senior secondary schools in Oshodi local government are of Lagos state Also,
this study reviewed some relevant and related literatures under sub-headings.
The descriptive research survey was applied in this study for the assessment of
the opinions of the selected respondents for this study, with the use of the
questionnaire and the sampling technique. A total of 80 (n=80) respondents were
sampled for this study. Five null hypotheses were formulated and tested, with the
application of the t-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation tools at 0.05
level of significance. Some of the research hypotheses that were formulated and
tested are as follows: parental educational background does not have a
significant effect on children’s academic performance; children of parents from
high educational background will not significantly perform better than those
from parents with low educational background.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Abstract v
Table
of
Contents vi
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
to the
Study 1
1.2 Statement
of the Problem 4
1.3 Theoretical
of
Problem 5
1.4 Purpose
of the Study 7
1.5 Research
Questions 7
1.6 Research
Hypotheses 7
1. 7 Significance
of the
Study 8
1.8 Scope
of the Study 8
1.9 Definition
of
Terms 8
CHAPTER
TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction 10
2.2 Theories
of Socioeconomic
Status 10
2.3 Influence
of Socio-economic Factor on Academic
Performance 11
2.4 Influence
of Parental Conflict on Academic
Success 13
2.5 Factors
Affecting Students Academic Performances In Secondary
Schools 15
2.6 Parents
Educational/Occupational
Status 18
2.7 Influence
of Parental Discipline Factor on Academic
Performance 23
2.8 Influence
of Home Factor on Academic
Performance 26
2.9 Parents'
Support to Children's
Education 27
2.10 Empirical
Studies 29
2.11 Summary
of
Review 31
CHAPTER
THREE: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction 33
3.2 Research
Design
Method 33
3.3 Area
of
Study 33
3.4 Population 33
3.5 Sample
and Sampling
Technique 34
3.6 Instrumentation 34
3.7 Validation
of
Instruments 35
3.8 Method
of Data
collection 35
3.9 Method
of Data
Analysis 35
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND
RESULTS
4.1
Introduction 36
4.2 Demographic Characteristics of
the
Respondents 36
4.3 Test of
Hypotheses 42
CHAPTER FIVE DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1
Discussions 45
5.2 Conclusions 48
5.3 Recommendations 49
REFERENCES 50
APPENDIX 60
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
to the Study
There have been several studies done
within and outside Nigeria on the effects of home environment as well as the
socio-economic status of parents on the academic achievement of students (Ajila
& Olutola, 2007; Uwaifo, 2012). Research has found many
factors that influence how well a student does in school and the amount of
confidence the students have for themselves. However, in Nigeria, like other
growing economies, families are finding it more difficult to stay connected
with their children’s education. This is most common to families living in mega
cities such as Lagos where both parents work outside of the home Carmen, (2007)
noted that the extended family has become significantly less extended as
mobility has increased. Parents are becoming isolated from their children and
finding it difficult to keep a careful watch on what needs to be done to help
them succeed in school. Many families are not even led by a parent, but by a
grandparent, guardian, or some other adult.
With the changes in family life and
indeed in societal makeup, schools are now finding it increasingly difficult to
keep parents informed of and actively engaged in the day-to-day progress of
their children (Deslandes & Bertrand, 2005). Teachers and
administrators are discovering that the support they once received in getting
students to do their homework is not there, because the parents are not home to
insist that students complete their assignments.
It must be noted that while there
are so many factors influencing the ability of students to progress
academically, Ozmert (2005) emphasized the importance of environmental
influence as a major factor in the development of student’s academic
performance. The educational background of the parents’, however is the most
important factor that affects the student’s academic performance. In view of
this, Hussain (2006) noted that secondary school students in public schools
often come from economically poor and average income families. These families
face various problems causing emotional disturbance among their children. They
have poor academic performance. This singular factor shows how important the
family is to academic achievement of students in secondary schools as well as
the centrality of parents to the academic performance of students.
According to Ndubuisi (2005) there
is a positive correlation between parental attitude and children's social
orientation and academic achievement. Ndubuisi is of the opinion that parents'
dimensions of value placement on their children's well-being or otherwise,
significantly affects the child's positive or negative adaptation to his/her
society and even the way he/she carry out his/her may academic work
in school.
Many factors contribute directly or indirectly to the
educational development of a child both within and outside the school system.
These factors stem from either heredity or environment. Many psychologists such
as Freud and Adler now de-emphasize the significant role of heredity in the
total development of the child while underlining the prominence of the
environment. Craft et al (2002), made some contributions to the understanding
of the relationship between the child's home background and his academic
performance in school. A child is the product and reflection of the society.
While the school runs the formal education system, the home provides formal and
in formal educational experiences.
Many psychologists have advocated that the immediate
environment (Home) should be made quite stimulating so as to enhance the
development of a child's intellect and good academic performance. According to
Locke (1970) we are like a clean slate at birth and that the environmental
influences determine what fills the vacuum.
This is what he referred to as "Tabula Rasa". In
other words, whatever we inherited from our parents may be enhanced or dampened
by the kind of environment we live in ..
In some situations, parents adopt care free attitude towards
the learning of their children, even their social orientation, and this has in
many instances, caused the low academic performance of children even their
maladaptive behaviours in their immediate society (Rake, 1999).
The quality of students' performance remains at the top
priority for educators. The variables affecting students academic performances
are both inside and outside the school. There are a number of factors that
affect students' performance like parental parent's education and their
involvement in child's studies, student's gender, time allocation, technology,
available facilities and lots more.
Studies carried out by Mudock and Mudock (2004), show that
the first six years of a child are very important because whatever goes wrong
at this stage will have long lasting effect on the child when he grows up. It
is during this early period that the personal characteristics and mental health
of the child are established. The child learns how to love and be loved and how
to cope with sibling rivalry. Also, it is at this time that the child develops
feelings of hostility and aggression if the environment is not conducive. This
early socialization process is important because it helps a child adjust to
places outside his home.
Psychologists and sociologists like Jersild (2005) and
Hurlock (2006), believe that if solid foundations are not laid for the
acquisition of basic skill when the child is young, learning becomes a problem
later in life as it is often unsuccessful. This should involve parents
monitoring efforts to accountability and acting as advisors in school
improvement efforts. This may be achieved by having parents serve on standing
and ad-hoc special committees and boards of the school such as special events
committee, disciplinary committee and governing board. This way, parents get
firsthand knowledge of the needs and problems of the school and work
co-operatively with the school in resolving them (Aloe, 2006). When parents
possess the necessary knowledge and skills relevant to the school curriculum
such parents may serve as information sources, the audience for school academic
activities and/or class assistants. There also seems to be ample evidence to
suggest that parental involvement in home work and assignments may improve
children's performance in school.
Parental positive and co-operative attitude towards the
development of the school has been found to influence positively on children's
learning outcomes in school. Such parental behaviours are reflected in good
attendance at PT A meetings, sending children to school on time, fees are paid
on time, children are made to complete homework on time and parents visit the
school regularly to monitor the progress of their children. Teachers have a
remarkably difficult job and will appreciate anyone who supports them and
acknowledges their work.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The idea that good educational
qualification of parents translates directly to good academic achievement and
poor parental educational qualification translate to poor
academics for children to be a general consensus . This study hereby seeks to
find out from teachers their perception of parental educational qualification
and children academic achievement
The problem of low socio-economic status and low educational
status among parents, and its attendant effect on the academic performance of
students cannot be overemphasized. Most parents in Nigeria today are poor,
uneducated, and majority of them are unemployed (Jimoh, 2006). This can be
linked to poor economic situation in the country and the world economic
recession. As a result, parents lack the wherewithal to maintain themselves and
their children (Jimoh, 2006). Most Nigerian parents fail in their duties to
send their children to school. Many of them whose children are in school, do
not take adequate care of them because they lack the financial power to carry
or foot their children's school bills. This has caused many children whose
parents are poor and not educated to constantly absent themselves from school,
while majority of the children have finally dropped out of school. These
parents do not purchase relevant books for their children or foot other school
expenses for the child (Jimoh, 2006).
Not only that the children of the poor are not properly
cared for. For instance, children whose parents are not rich do not feed well
before and after school. Thus most of them go to school in an empty stomach,
and while in school, they do not pay attention to what is going on in the
classroom. A child needs proper feeding to complement cognition, but children
of the poor and uneducated do not feed adequately not to talk of balanced diet.
For lack of money, children whose parents are poor and uneducated are meant to
live in an unfriendly environment where they are incapable of reading freely
and the materials to study are not available for them to carry out meaningful
academic work. As a result of these, the children record poor academic
performance at school. The above problems therefore, necessitated this study.
1.4 Theoretical of
Problem
This work is underpinned under Bradley Wright theory of
social causation and social selection. This theory advances that human beings
who possess some certain characteristics may have the tendency to perform
better in some certain areas due to their possession. In this wise, it becomes
clear that having literate parents may be the reason why some children will
perform better than children of the illiterate. If parents exhibit
positive values in terms of providing for their children's education, such
children who are well catered for, will no doubt, be high academic achievers,
while those whose parents place negative values on their education will grow up
to be low achievers in their educational career. This will equally show in
their poor social adjustment to the larger community. (Uzomah, 2006).
Startup (1992) defined social class as a level in society
made up of people who consider themselves equals due to similarities in
educational background, level of education, occupation race an attitudes
towards social values. Researchers such as Mundi and Arnold (1999) have
revealed that there is a close relationship between the educational and
socio-economic status of parents and academic performance of their children.
Afred (2004), also supported the fact that socio-economic status of the family
influences the academic performance of the child in school and that there are
several ways in which extreme poverty exert influence on school performance.
Malnutrition and poor living conditions are bound to have an influence on the
health of the child and his ability to learn. Poor housing and overcrowding
cannot only impede on the child's ability to complete home-work but even his
ability for reading or engaging in constructive play.
Studies have also confirmed that the higher the income level
of the parents, the greater the ability to finance the children's education and
vice versa especially in Nigeria where the ability to buy educational materials
depends on one's income. According to Fraser (1993), there is correlation
between income and good student performance. According to her, the standard of
living is dependent on income, the nutritional state of a child and possibly
also the sense of tension and insecurity in a family living on the brink of
poverty may all contribute to the poor performance of the child.
Stone (2005), is also of the opinion that children from poor
homes are likely to show to a great extent the effects of under-nourishment,
illness' and lack of sleep. She went further to state that there is likely to
be negative attitude to school which manifests itself in truancy thereby
lowering the academic achievement.
Swell and Hauser (1996), found out that youths whose parents
enjoy more prestigious positions perform better than those whose parents occupy
low socio-economic status. They do everything possible to cater for their
children.
1.4 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study was to examine the effect of
educational status of parents on student academic performance in five selected
senior secondary schools in Oshodi Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The specific objectives of the study included:
i. To
examine the effect of parental educational background on children performance
ii. To
ascertain whether education of children from high educational background will
perform better than those from low educational background
1.5 Research
Questions
The following research questions were raised for this study:
i. What
is the effect of parent’s educational background on children academic
performance?
ii. Will
children of parents with high educational background perform better than those
with low educational background?
1.6 Research Hypotheses
The following research hypotheses were formulated to guide
this study.
H01: Parental
educational background does not have a significant effect on children’s
academic performance
H02: Children
of parents from with high educational background will not significantly
perform
better than those from parents with low educational background.
1. 7 Significance of the
Study
This study will be of great benefit to the various segments
of individuals and group of individuals in the society. For instance
(1) The students will benefit from
this study because its findings and recommendations will help them to
appreciate that they need parental care and positive values for them to be
successful in school and society at large. It will make the students to be more
adaptive to parental control and care.
(2) Parents would also benefit from
this study because it will enable them to be up and doing in the upbringing of
their children if they want them to be successful in academic and in life. This
study will enlighten parents on the best methods of bringing up a child in the
home.
(3) Teachers would be beneficiaries
of this study because; it will enable them to be more enlightened on how best
to train their children in the home and at school, as surrogate parents.
(4) The society will undoubtedly,
benefit from this study because it will enable the adult members of the society
to learn that parental value system has something to do with the child's
behaviour and his/her academic success in the school.
1.8 Scope of the Study
The study examined the effect of socio-economic status of
parents on student academic performance in five selected senior secondary
schools in Oshodi Local Government Area of Lagos State.
1.9 Definition of Terms
Operational definitions of terms were appropriately provided
in this study. Virtually, all the variables in the study were defined
accordingly.
Academic Performance: This
refers to the level or rate at which students in school perform in their
academic career. It also shows the level at which students carry out their
school works at a given period of time and the result of it.
Educational Status: This term is
used for social processes in which one achieve social competence and individual
growth, carried on in a selected, controlled sitting which can be
institutionalized as a school or college.
Educational Upbringing: This
refers to education of children and how they perform in academics when
subjected to test or examination.
Effects: Is the result or outcome
of anything be it positive or negative.
Home Environment: This refers to
parental experience and aspirations for children, objects and material
conditions in the home for comfort and also specific behavioral processes
conducive to learning.
Low Educational Status: Refers
to little or no academic background of parents.
High Educational Status: Simply
means parents who have quality education.
Occupational Status: Person's trade,
vocation or principal means of earning living.
Parental Attitude: Parents
disposition to respond in a characteristics way to some stimulus in their
social environment. Some responses determine the way and manner their children
are brought up by them.
Parents: This means father, mother or
ancestors e.g. our first parents (Adam and Eve).
Socio-Economic Status: This
refers to the level of social stratification of individuals in a given society.
It is the socio-economic distinction amongst members of the society.
Students: This
means a person who is studying at a college, polytechnic or university; boy or
girl attending schools; anyone who studies or who is devoted to the acquisition
of knowledge.
TOPIC: EFFECT OF EDUCATIONAL STATUS OF PARENTS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SELECTED FIVE SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS
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Chapters: 1 - 5
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