Full Project – INFLUENCE OF ECONOMIC BACKGROUND ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN OFFA LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KWARA STATE IN OFFA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KWARA STATE
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Education not only provides knowledge and skills, but also inculcates values, training of instincts, fostering right attitude and habits. According to Muhammed and Muhammed (2010) they are of the opinion that, cultural heritage and values are transmitted from one generation to another through Education. The responsibility of training a child always lies in the hand of the parents. This is appropriate with the common assertion by sociologist that education can be an instrument of cultural change which is being taught from home is relevant in this discuss. It is not out of place to imagine that parental socio-economic background can have possible effects on the academic achievement of children in school. Whatsoever affect the developmental stage of children would possibly affect their education or disposition to it. Parental status is one of such variables. When a woman’s nutritional status improves, so too does the nutrition of her young children “Parents of different occupational classes often have different styles of child rearing, different ways of disciplining their children and different ways of reacting to their children. These differences do not express themselves consistently as expected in the case of every family rather they influence the average tendencies of families for different occupational classes.” (Rothestein, 2004).
In line with the above assertion, Hill (2004) had also argued that economic background of parents do not only affect the academic performance, but also makes it possible for children from low background to compete with their counterparts from high socio-economic background under the same academic environment. Moreover, Smith, Fagan and Ulvund (2002) had asserted that significant predictor of intellectual performance at age of 8 years included parental economic background (SES). In the same vein, other researchers had posited that parental SES could affect school children as to bring about flexibility to adjustment to the different school schedules (Guerin, 2001). The same view is shared by Machebe (2012), in her research, concluded that, parental economic background could influence academic performance of their children at school. In Nigeria, Oni (2007) and Omoegun (2007) had averred that there is significant difference between the rates of deviant behaviour among students from high and low economic backgroundes. The health status of the children which could also be traceable to parental socio-economic background can be another factor that can affect the academic performance of the students, Adewale (2002) had reported that in a rural community where nutritional status is relatively low and health problems are prevalent, children academic performance is greatly hindered. This assertion is again hinged on nature of parental socio-economicbackground. Moreover, when a child get proper nutrition, health care, stimulation during pre-school years, the ability to interact with and take optimal advantage of the full complement of resources offered by a formal learning environment is enhanced.
The foregoing discussion had established that economic background and host of other factors relating to home environment of students, such as educational background of parents, health status of students, parental occupation and family size could have effects on children academic achievement. It is against this background that this work is being undertaken to empirically investigate the possible effect of these factors on students’ academic achievement in selected schools in Offa Local Government Area.Many educators think that economic background creates a negative effect on academic performance. For example, Adams (2000) states that the basic needs of certain students are not being met, thus not allowing the students to physically or mentally be able to perform in school, if students are not properly fed or given proper hygiene care, they cannot be expected to perform successfully in their academic.
Wenglinsky (2001) points out those students from low socio-economic families have limited educational opportunities than those from the middle and upper class families. The educational backgrounds of the student’s families play an important role in academic success. Similarly, William (2003) notes that socio-economic background has a great influence on children educational performance in school. He further argued that children of higher economic background have greater chances not only to education but also to promotion within a system. There is a general consensus among educators and individuals concerned with the upbringing of children that parental economic status such as occupation, education and income to a great extend determine the academic performance of children in school. This view shows that socio-economic background of parents play significant roles in educational upliftment of children.
Goddad (2008) shows that the socio structure involving the parents, children and the community were important factors in the academic success of their children; he went further to say that the academic success of individual is directly related to their own personal characteristics. It is observed that members of school, families and communities play a vital role in the student’s academic accomplishments. Students may have access to many forms of social support to assist in their academic performance. The social assistance a students received from his/her various support groups has an impact on his/her academic success, this is because their children seems to be well feed, well clothed and their parents are also conscious of their education. They are also more likely expose to toys and stimulation games which help them as opposed to children from lower class.
In today’s society, it is a common phenomenon to see parent’s struggling and striving to provide for their children a good and sound education, this is because education has become the bed rock for human socio-economic political and occupational development. The efforts by parents to see that their children acquire good education and saddle on them to a higher socio-economic and political status. The home is the most influential part of community where the school derives its existence immediately, child start his learning at primary education, he is certainly conscious of his parents and family status and thus his personality is almost formed. Moreover, there has been a concern among teachers, educators and parents about the poor performance of secondary school students either in their internal or external examinations. Nevertheless this performance has been an object of worry to the parents of these students and most of the students themselves. This is as a result of the fact that among the students (especially those with intentions to further their education) after completing their secondary school, could not achieved the necessary and desired qualification that would have put them on the track to higher institution of learning. Ford and Harris (2006) examined parental influences on African-American students’ school achievements. They focused on parents’ level of education, marital status and family income and found that children from high and middle socio-economic families are exposed to a better learning environment at home. This is because of provision and availability of extra learning facilities like computers, televisions, radios, different types of reading materials among others. They maintained that most students in low economic background families are not exposed to these learning facilities.
- STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
With the contemporary social and economic inequality among the Nigerian people families and homes, the phenomenon of the differences in student’s Academic performance seems to be very peculiar within the Nigerian society. Given education to children is usually shouldered by parents especially in the provision of educational necessities like books, uniform, pens and other materials. Children from poor families find themselves in a dilemma while those from rich families are giving preference due to the greater ability to acquire most educational requirement with ease. Many factors such as inadequate school facilities, cultural factors and inadequate teachers among others have been cited as the possible causes of poor academic performance in Nigeria specifically Offa L.G.A. The researcher intends to carry out a research on the influence of parent’s economic background on the student’s Academic Achievement. This study was therefore set to determine the influence of economic background on students academic performance in Senior Secondary School in Offa L.G.A of Kwara State.
Furthermore, children from low socio-economic parents are far isolated and treated with scorn even by teachers. These poor children now become discouraged, lost interest and eventually absent from school. Poor parents can still send some of their children to school but what happen is that,they have to make decision as to which child should go to school or not coupled with issue of provision of necessary motivation and facilities that enhanced learning and education of children. It is observed that if all children of a given community should start and finished a course of study at the same time, family background would be decisive in determining the academic performance of an individual and the pattern of job he/she will acquire.
- PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The Purpose of this study is to find out the influence of economic background on students academic performance in offa local government, Kwara State in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State. Specifically the objectives are to:
- Determine the influence of parent’s education level on their students’ academic performance in Economics.
- Investigate the influence of parent’s income level on the students’ academic performance in Economics.
- Determine the influence of parent’s occupation on the students’ academic performance in Economics.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions will guide the study.
- How does the educational status of parents influenced the student’s academic performance in Economics?
- Does the income level of parents actually influence the student’s academic performance in Economics?
- Does the parental occupational status influence student’s academic performance in Economics?
1.5 HYPOTHESES
The following hypothesis is formulated to guide the study and will be tested at 0.05 level of significance:
- There is no significant relationship between parent’s economic background and student’s academic performance.
- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This research desired to determine the inspiration of economic background on students academic performance in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara state. It also sought to know if there is any correlation or relationship between social class of parents and their Children’s academic achievement. It is hoped that the findings of this research would be useful to thus;students, teachers, parents, government, researchers, scholars and the general public.
Students will benefit from the findings of this study because it will enable them to understand their parents’ economic standard and make the best use of the little provisions their parents afford.
The findings of the study will also enlighten teachers on the influence of parents’ economic background on the academic achievement of student. When the economic background of parents is improved, teacher’s effectiveness will also improve as they will work with ease.
This research will enable parents at homes to develop the background of their Childs by re-appraise their role in the upbringing of their children in order to help them to increase or improve their academic achievement.It will also enable parents to have an insight into the reasons whytheir students achieve badly in schools and also to enable theparents to know how to assist both their children and teachersin order to encourage them to stay on and not to relent intheir own efforts. Furthermore, this study will also reveal therole of parents in students’ academic achievement with a viewto enlighten them on the fact that students’ academic achievement do not depend on fund, teachers, social amenities alone but also on the efforts they made.
Therefore, these findings will be of great importance to the federal Government and Educational Administrators to improve the living of its citizens and effective planning for all educational objectives.
Consequently, this study will serve as a vital source of information researchers and reference point to prospective scholars in the field of educational administration and planning. The findings of the study will make recommendations on how to improve the status for the needed manpower for socio-economic development thereby making the study beneficial to the general public.
1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This study will only focus on the influence of economic background on students academic performance in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State.It is also limited to some public Senior Secondary School in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State.
1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS OF THE TERMS
- Economic background (SES): This refers to individual’s/group’s demographic, social and economic position in relation to others.
- Occupation: Is what people engage themselves on to earn income or money for living. It’s also an activity that serves as one’s regular source of livelihood.
- Income: Is remuneration for work in the wage and salary.
- Academic Performance: Is the statements of total Achievement in school subject at the end of terminal examination.
- Education: Is the process of acquiring knowledge, values, norms, attitudes, which enable an individual to function properly in the society.
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Full Project – INFLUENCE OF ECONOMIC BACKGROUND ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN OFFA LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KWARA STATE IN OFFA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KWARA STATE