Project – EFFECT OF SINGLE PARENTHOOD ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KEANA LGA OF NASARAWA STATE

ABSTRACT

The research work investigated the Effect of single parenthood on the achievement of students in secondary schools in Keana LGA of Nasarawa State. The research work employed the use of questionnaires in gathering data for analysis and it contained the following items: name of the respondents, school, age, sex, class, religion. Data is presented in tables and frequencies while percentage was used to analyse. From the analysis, students from single parents do lack affection, involved in delinquent behaviour and always hostile and aggressive, and do not perform well academically. And more so, single mother and father affect the students educational outcome. With the result obtained and fact finding highlight families and the causes of with whom students live, for both single mother and single father families divorce has more effects on students educational performance. In conclusion it was recommended that students from Single parenting should be encouraged on the three basic dimension of self-esteem namely sense of belonging, sense of worth and sense of competence. They need positive change for the overall adjustment. Also, parents should tolerate, accommodate, appreciate and understand each other in marriage so as to curb the effect on students future. Both parents should try to stay together for the sake of good upbringing of their students, whenever there is problem in the home, the couple should seek God’s direction and a good counsellor for help or otherwise, settle the problems between themselves amicably.

 

 

TITLE PAGE                                                            

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Table of Content

List of Tables

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1    Background of the study

1.2    Statement of the problem

1.3    Objective of the study

1.4    Research Questions

1.5    Research hypotheses

1.6    Significance of the study

1.7    Scope of the study

1.8    Limitation of the study

1.9    Definition of terms

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.1    Review of concepts

2.2    Review of related literature

2.3    Review of Empirical studies

2.4    Theoretical Framework

2.5    Chapter Summary

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1    Research Design

3.2    Population of the study

3.3    Sample size determination

3.4    Sample size selection technique and procedure

3.5    Research Instrument and Administration

3.6    Method of data collection

3.7    Method of data analysis

3.8    Validity and Reliability of the study

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1    Data Presentation

4.2    Answering Research Questions

4.3    Test of Hypotheses

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1    Summary

5.2    Conclusion

5.3    Recommendation

References

Appendix

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

All over the world, and in Nigeria to be specific, education is accorded a place of pride because it is the means through which the culture of different societies is passed down through succeeding generations. Over the years the investigation of the factors that influence academic achievement of students have attracted the interest and concern of teachers, counsellors, psychologist, researchers and schools administrators in Nigeria (Wiseman 1973; Sogbetun 1981). This is because of the public outcries concerning the low standard of education in the country. Imgoe (2002). One of the factors affecting low standard of education in the country is Single parenting which is affecting nationwide. Single parenting can be seen as a situation whereby one of the parent is no longer in the union that produced the child. According to Oyedele (1995) it can also be seen as a situation whereby only one of the parent raises the child or students. Single parenting can be defined as when one out of two people who is responsible for the nurturing and child rearing is not available, and the work meant for two people, is now been  carried out by only one person. According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, single-parenting has been defined as a mother or father who looks after students on their own, without the other partner. Along with substantial prevalence of Single parenting, researchers in the United State and Western Europe have extensively examined consequences of growing up with a single parent and its negative association with students education. Although Single parenting is negatively associated with students educational outcomes in most western countries, recent comparative studies showed that the strength of the negative relationship varies significantly across countries (Hampden Thompson and Pong, 2005).

Compared to the large number of studies on Single parenting in western industrial countries and even in some developing countries, little research has addressed the issue in societies that have recently experienced automatic changes in family structure, especially the rapid increase in divorce rate in West Africa. Nigeria has experienced a rapid increase in divorce, which makes it important to examine the effect of Single parenting and its effects on students academic achievement and well-being. Murray (1985) sees divorce as a separation of the parent or if one of the parent is away from home for a long time through work, illness or imprisonment. Adenowo (1995) also says that divorce for definite purpose can be described as the act of formal dissolving of a marriage and the two parent reverts to the status of becoming single once again. This analysis becomes necessary because life in a single parent family can be stressful for both the child and the parent. Such families are faced with challenges of diminishing financial resources.

This study examines how students of single parent families fare in their educational outcomes. The relationship between Single parenting and student’s education may vary across societies depending on broad family and other social structures surrounding Single parenting. Examining relationships between family structure and students education in Nigeria; one of the “strong family” countries in which the rate of single-parent families has recently risen, may contribute to the understanding of the implication of rapid family change for students well-being.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Single parenting as a school factor is a major determinant of the effectiveness of students education and this may influence students academic achievement in the school. Therefore, problems and issues that might hamper the effective practice of education need to be studied with a view to eradicate them. One of such problems is Single parenting which has been a subject of multidimensional argument with regard to its effect on students academic performance. Therefore, this study seeks to provide empirical evidence on the influence of Single parenting on the academic achievement of school students in Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

1.3   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the study are the following:

1. To identify and discuss the types of single-parent families.
2. To highlight the effect of Single parenting on students academic performance.

iii. To highlight the academic performances of different students from different single-parent families.

1. To highlight the challenges students from single parent families face in their academic performance.

1.4    RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. To what extent does divorced single-father families affect the students’ academic performance?
2. Does widower single-father families affect the student’s academic performance?

iii. To what extent does divorced single-mother families affect the student’s academic performance?

1. Does widowed single-mother families affect the student’s academic performance?
2. What is the difference in the academic achievement between students from two-parent families and those from single-parent families?

1.5    RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

H₀: There is no significant relationship between Single parenting and student’s academic performance.

H₁: There is a significant relationship between Single parenting and student’s academic performance.

1.6   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is expected that the result obtained from this study apart from identifying the effect of Single parenting on students academic achievement will also be of great value to curriculum planner’s and teachers. Since this study tends to look at the effect of Single parenting on students academic achievement and the solutions to bring about positive changes in students academic performance. This study is also expected to draw the attention of educators, parent and government to need for Single parenting reduction through a decrease in divorce rate and increase in household income. Also, this study tends to give great relief to the parent who are either widows or widowers on the way to train their students in a right form for better future.

1.7    SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The research work investigated the Effect of single parenthood on the achievement of students in secondary schools in Keana LGA of Nasarawa State.

1.8   LIMITATION OF THE STUDY 

This research work was carried out within Keana Local Government Area. The subjects of the study were limited to public school secondary 5 and 6 students only. Since the study intends to focus on different single parent families from different schools, the problems the researcher faced were;

1. Financial problem
2. Inadequate time

1.9   DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

Single parenting: Is a situation whereby one of the parents is no longer in the union that produced the child.

School: Is a place where teaching and learning take place.

Student: Is a person that is studying at secondary school level both lower and upper class (secondary 1 – secondary 6).

Academic: It is connected with education at all levels (secondary, secondary and tertiary levels).

Project – EFFECT OF SINGLE PARENTHOOD ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KEANA LGA OF NASARAWA STATE