Home Variables and Academic Performance in Government among Secondary Schools
ABSTRACT
This study sought to examine home variables and academic performance in government among secondary school students in Oruk Anam Local Government Area. To achieve this aim, two null hypotheses were formulated in line with the specific objectives of the study to guide and direct the study. Survey research design was adopted for the study. A sample size of four hundred (400) students was drawn from eight selected secondary schools in the study area using the simple random method. The instrument used was a questionnaire which aimed at obtaining firsthand, reliable and valid data from the respondents concerning their home variables and how it affects or enhance the academic performance of government students. The data obtained were subjected to satisfied analysis using the simple percentage (%). Based on the outcome of the statistical analysis, the null hypothesis was rejected showing that home variable has a significant effect on the academic performance of students in government. It was recommended that parents should support their wards educational pursuit by providing favorable home environment in government as a subject in Oruk Anam Local Government Area.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
The home is the primary institution for children. Christe (2009) defines home as a place in which an individual can rest and store personal property. The family on the other hand can be looked at s a social group characterized by common residence, economic, cooperation and production. When a child is born, the family is the first primary group with which they come in contact. Transmission of social values of right and wrong is morally and religiously accepted or condemned by the family. It follows therefore that by a child attains five to seven year of age he must have what are is rights, obligations and roles within the society.
However, the background of a student goes a long way to determine his/her individuality. As the child enters schools, he/she will start manifesting different attitude and expectations. In addition they may be of the same age group, developed at different rates and so may be able to cope with the intellectual and social task of the school in varying extent. The child’s home and his family offer the best education since his parents serves as teachers.
The parent laid the foundation for the desires social, moral, emotional, spiritual and intellectual wellbeing of the child.The training a received from home is greatest importance in his/her total personality formation and his/her academic achievement in government. It can also be observed that the pattern of the life in the home (stable or broken), the economic and social status of the family in the community and many other conditions that give the home distinctive character can influence academic performance of student in government.
Abdulganiyu (2007) added that research have shown that children differ in various ways as a results of variables their home background such as socio-economic status, home types, family size, family income, birth order. These home variables are also found to be positively related to children academic achievement, more especially government student that need care and love.
Home Variables and Academic Performance in Government among Secondary Schools
Similarly, Giwa (2010), have investigated factors within the student variables that affect their performance in school, variables such as socio-economic status, family size, birth order, parental attitude, child rearing practices, parental absence or presence have been found to affect social and intellectual learning experience of children in school. This is so because children are born with some physiological, emotional and intellectual needs such as need for love and security. The need for new experience the need for praise and recognition and the need for responsibility. Based on the observation above and in line with the assumption and economic and social future of many children in most localities is being undetermined by cultural practices that promotes widespread divorce amongst couples and brought unnecessary hardship to the growing children. It is pertinent at this junction to point out in spite of all the needs expressed as to be meet by the student most especially government student. Thus research also has intended to seek for how much government students is affected in academic performance, either as a result of his home variables.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
As a result of poor academic performance of students observed, Nwachukwu (2012) maintain that the overall poor performance at public examinations in Nigeria particularly at the secondary schools level revealed the rising low quality of education being provided against planned expectations. One therefore wonders the extent government teachers who were as seen as professional trained to impact government knowledge and skills in the student have been able to achieve their mandate, in view of the student’s poor academic performance in both internal and external examinations. Students become frustrated because they cannot cope with their final examination to meet their proposed career. Government and school have been unable to provide adequate solution to the student’s poor academic performance. The problem is what are home variable that influence academic performance of student in government. Parents have been partly blamed for failing to lay the right foundation in their children. Hence it becomes necessary to examine home variables and academic performance of students in government with the view to finding solution to the problems.
1.3 Purpose of the study
The purpose of this study was to examine home variables and academic performance of student’ in government, especially the study intended.
- To examine the influence of socio-economic status on academic performance of student in government.
- To find out whether home types influence student’s academic performance in government.
- To assess whether family income students academic performance in government.
4 To examine the influence of parental educational status on academic performance of students’ in government.
1.4 Significance of the study
This study shall on completion be of great significance to a member or user like parent, teacher as well as students and entire society.
- To the parents, this study will educate the parents more to realize their roles to the educational upbringing of the child even from the pre- school age to the early adolescent ages of the child.
- This study will help the teachers to regard all the student as on equal grounds irrespective of a known family background and put in more skills to teach them.
- The research will help individuals to improve their socio-economic status in order to have a better future.
- Finally, this study will serve as an index for future researcher on the related topic.
1.5 Research Questions
The following research questions were formulated to guide the study.
- To what extend does socio-economic status influence academic performance of students’ in government?
- Does home type influence academic performance of student in government?
- Does family income influence students’ academic performance in government?
- Does parental education influence students’ academic performance in government?