ABSTRACT
The study investigates the influence of
parents' socio-economic status on academic performance of students.
Two hundred school going adolescents
comprised the sample for the study. A random sampling technique was used in
selecting 200 subjects used for this Study from ten secondary schools in
Ifako-Ijaiye Local Education District (L.E.D) of Lagos State.
A researcher-conducted questionnaire
was used for the study. There was no conscious manipulation of the variable
since the interaction among them has been completed. T-test of independent
sample was used to verify the difference between parental socio-economic status;
income, occupation, educational attainment, and academic achievement of the
school children.
From the analysis of the data and the
interpretation of' the results given, the following findings resulted:
i.
There
is a significant difference between children of white-collar and blue-collar
parents relative to their academic achievement in schools.
ii.
There
is a significant difference between children of literate and illiterate parents
relative to their academic achievement in school.
iii.
There
is a significant difference between children of prestigious and low occupation
parents relative to their academic performance in schools.
Therefore, some recommendations were
made.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
ONE
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background
to the Study
1.2 Statement
of the Problem
1.3 Research
Questions
1.4 Purpose
of the Study
1.5 Significance
of Study
1.6 Research
Hypotheses
1.7 Scope
of the Study
1.8 Limitations
of the Study
1.9 Operational
Definition of Terms
CHAPTER
TWO
2.0 Introduction
2.1 Meaning
of Socio-Economic Status
2.2 Parental
Socio-Economic Status and Students' Academic Performance
2.3 Family
Size, Birth Order and Academic Performance
2.4 Parental
Socio-Economic Status and Students' Psycho-Social Adjustment
2.5 Parental
Education and Students' Academic Performance
2.6 Parental
Socio-Economic and Students' School Attendance
2.7 Parental
Psycho-Social Attributes and Children's Academic Performance
2.8 Parental
Occupation and Academic Performance of Students
2.9 Summary
of the Review
CHAPTER
THREE
3.0 Introduction
3.1 Research
Design
3.2 Population
3.3 Sample
and Sampling Technique
3.4 Research
Instrument
3.5 Validity
of Instrument
3.6 Reliability
of Instrument
3.7 Procedure
for Questionnaire Administration & Collection
3.8 Method
of Data Analysis
CHAPTER
FOUR
4.0 Introduction
4.1 Hypothesis
Testing
4.2 Summary
of Finding
CHAPTER
FIVE
5.0 Introduction
5.1 Discussion
of the Findings
5.2 Summary
of the Study
5.3 Conclusion
5.4 Recommendation
5.5 Suggestions
for Further Research
Bibliography
Appendix I
Appendix II
CHAPTER
ONE
1.0
INTRODUCTION
Education has been described in
numerous ways. One of these is that, it is a process for the development of the
totality of individual intellectually, physically, socially, morally,
spiritually and psychologically to enable him live an effective and meaningful
life and to be able to contribute towards the development of the society in
which he finds himself. That great hope existed and still exists for utilizing
education as a major lever to life from backward social order to more
satisfactory level is evident from the statements and politics of governments
throughout the world.
However, education has been seen
nationally and internationally as the key to progress and development. This is simply
demonstrated by the yawning gap which separates the developed world from the so
called `developing' nations. That gap according to Jakande (1987) will never be
closed, and the poorer nations will remain permanently subservient and subordinate
unless they embrace education. Thus, education will open the door of
prosperity, human development and national greatness.
Consequently, greater emphasis now
appears to be placed on educational development because of the realisation that
education, especially in science and technology, is the most powerful
instrument for social transformation and economic development. It is a
universally accepted principle that the attempt to create a new social order
based on freedom, equality and justice can succeed only if traditional
education is revolutionized in content and context.
One of the most revolutionary and
dramatic indication of the place of education and its relevance to national
development may be found in a communication addressed to the Soviet Leader,
Lenin in 1919 by the Soviet economist, Strummin, on the eve of the launching of
the Soviet Union as cited by Ozurtunba (1987). he had warned Lenin that the
hydroelectric power grids, he was planning the huge industrial enterprises about
to be initiated, the steel drills, the machine - tool factories and even the
mechanized farms would all amount to colossal wastes unless an equivalent
investment in education was provided. The economist arrived at this conclusion,
because he saw that in his country there were students which showed that
primary education meant 19 percent increase in the output and wages of a
labourer; secondary education meant an increase of as much as 239 percent and
higher education or university education as much as 320 percent. Lenin took the
advice and made a colossal investment in the education of his people. The
result was spectacular and one of its manifestations was the Soviet industrial
revolution of 1927.
Therefore, it is the realization of the
values and benefits of education that has led to the development of the
Nigerian National Policy on Education (1981 revised) where it is entrenched
that:
"...
not only is education the greatest force that can be used to bring about
redress in lacking areas of nation building, it is also the greatest investment
that the nation can make for the quick development of its economic, social, technological
and human resources."
This is why Harbinson and Mayers (1964)
stated that human resources development is a process of increasing the
knowledge, skills, attitudes and the capabilities of all the people in the
society. Economically, education is the accumulation of human capital and its
investment in the development of the economy.
Secondly, it Influences human interactions
and co-existence. Politically, education prepares the people for informed
franchising and suffrage. Thus, human resources development which comes through
education, opens the door to modern socialization.
There has been a new focus of the
Nigerian educational system on functionality and universalization. Emphasis
skilled from education for a few elites to the provision of basic education for
all by the year 2000, concerning at least the first nine years of schooling.
Thus, both the federal and state governments
have been making huge investments in education by allocating as much as 30
percent of their annual budgets to education. This is to ensure that education
is provided quantitatively and qualitatively as well as effectively and
efficiently. More focus is also on the curriculum and the quality of
instruction.
However, these huge investments in
education would be justified by the level of performance of the students in
their academic pursuits. It therefore becomes necessary to study, analyze and
drawn some conclusions concerning the predictors of academic performance of the
students. There are many such predictors but this project deals or focuses on
the social economic status as a predictor of students' academic performance in
some selected secondary schools in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area in Lagos State.
1.1
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
An understanding of the various factors
affecting the performance of the child in classroom with a view to maximizing
such performance has been of great concern to educators and psychologists over
the years.
Also, the plight of the
"culturally deprived" child in our schools, causes much concern for
educators, but despite the concern, there are few practical insights into the
causes of the problems much of what we know is based upon studies which show
that children from the lower classes do not do as well as their middle and
upper class pears.
Margaret (1997) quoting lpaye stated
that Socio-Economic Status (SES) of parents has been found to relate in a highly
positive and negative way to their children's performance in the school.
The present educators, diplomats,
teachers, psychologists, policy makers decried the rise in falling standard of
education especially in this country. The general consensus of the above mentioned
people on the reason for the fall in education were as a result of the
socio-economic background of the parents. They stressed that some parents, to a
large extent, have little concern about the progress and performance of their
children in the schools.
Some parents do not care about their
responsibility, and this may lead to low moral and truancy and this may have a
great effect on students' academic performance leading to the present economic
situation in the country. Many poor parents are forced by circumstances to
saddle the young ones with chores like hawking wares, cleaning the house and
doing other menial jobs which take much of their time and deprive them of
enough time to their studies.
It is the belief of some parents
especially the illiterates among them, that students often waste time on
watching the television and videos. They (parents) are ignorant of the fact
that radio and television programmes help immensely in providing vital information
and materials that can make students keep abreast of events around and gain
some academic exposures and consequently, help to improve their academic performance
in schools.
Another factor is that if the child is
deprived of good nutrition; he may suffer ill health and even find it difficult
to make satisfactory adjustments at schools.
Family size is another serious factor.
According to Anastasi (2001), the family size can affect the academic
performance of the child. She opined that a large family at least in certain
socio-economic situation would reduce the per capita funds available for
education, recreation, proper food, medical attention, etc. This means that any
reduction in or non-availability of the item mentioned above will normally
affect the performance of the child in school. Ogunlade and Fajuyitan (1994)
said that academic aspiration of the school child is positively related to the
socio-economic of their parents career work, which is the target of most
parents as a means of livelihood, created more harm to the development of their
children. This assertion is based on the fact that career employees use most of
their time in their work place. The aftermath of this trend is that children
are left at the mercy of the housemaids and schoolteachers to nurture. This
ugly trend deprives children from learning the norms, customs of the society.
Inability of the parents to instill discipline on the wards as a result of the
work that occupied their time and this prevents them (parents) from monitoring
their academic performance. Hence; involvement in career work is a bane to
students' academic performance.
1.2
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
There has been an outcry of the fallen
standard of education in Nigeria.
This is because of the poor academic performance of students in schools. The
researcher believes that the reason for this disparity of few students
performing well while a good number of them perform poorly, is as a result of
socio-economic background of parents.
With the increased emphasis on academic
Performance in Nigeria, a
lot of schools have been established and this has created pressure in
educational system in Nigeria.
There is a charming increasing in facilities such as textbooks, journals,
magazines, radio sets, television and video sets. Yet the home background of
these students, as well as the school background are to say the least are very
poor. With this type of situation, the country can hardly produce citizens who
can put the nation in the forefront of technological advancement.
1.3
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Socio-economic status as a predictor of
academic performance of the students among other factors cannot be over
emphasized.
Therefore, thus study intends to answer
the following research questions:
1. What are the socio-economic factors
which are predictors of students' academic performance in secondary schools in Ifako-Ijaiye
Local Government Area?
2. What are the effects of each factor on
students' performance?
3. What is the degree of relationship
between income of parents and academic performance of students?
4. Is there any significant effect of the
parents' occupation on students' performance?
5. Is there any significant effect of the
parents' education on students' performance?
1.4
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study is to
investigate the relationship between socioeconomic background or factors and
students' academic performance in secondary schools in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government
Area of Lagos State.
Also, it is necessary to find out the
different socio-economic factors that are responsible for their academic Performance.
1.5
SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
It is hoped, that the finding of the
study would help in identifying the socioeconomic factors affecting students'
academic performance.
It will enable teachers to know the
roles, being played by the family or parents in encouraging the students to
perform better in academic work. It will also help the teachers to know the
necessary help to render to these children who are less cared for by their
parents.
It will help the parents to know when,
where and how to assist their children/wards in order to improve their academic
performance in schools.
It will help the government, which
serves as central authority to know its responsibility with reference to the
educational Performance of these students. This may be in terms of bursary
awards and procuring of adequate facilities.
1.6
RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
The following hypotheses will be tested
in this study:
Hypothesis
One
There is no significant difference
between children of white collar and blue-collar parents relative to their
academic Performance in schools.
Hypothesis
Two
There is no significant difference
between children of literate and illiterate parents relative to their academic
Performance in schools.
Hypothesis
Three
There is no significant difference
between children of prestigious and low occupation parents relative to their
academic Performance in schools.
1.7
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study is intended to examine the
relationship between socio-economic status and students' academic performance
in some selected secondary schools in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of
Lagos State.
1.8
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This study is likely to experience
constraints like financial constraints, no easy accessibility to information or
data from schools, late collection of data like questionnaire. Other
constraints include time factor and attitude of the respondents.
1.9
OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
·
Socio-Economic Status: This refers to social and economic
class, level or power of the parents of the students, which may be high or low.
It also refers to the parents' social and economic ranking by the members of
the community whether superior or interior position.
·
Academic Performance: It connotes the marks which individual
student obtains in class tests or examination based on his or her learning
ability in schools.
·
Status: This refers to indices such as
occupation, income, education, etc. of the parents.
·
Socio-economic Background: This is the environment indicative of
the financial status of the home from which individual student comes.
·
Occupation: It refers to as a group of similar
jobs found in several establishments. That is any job, business, profession or
work done to earn a living.
·
Academic Performance: It is the average scores of students in
examination in all the subjects taken by the students.
·
Academic Performance: It refers to knowledge or skills
developed in the school subjects, usually designated by test scores or by marks
assigned by teachers or both.
·
Parental Education: It refers to the educational attainment
and qualification a parent acquired over times.
·
Career: It is defined as a sequence of positions,
jobs, or occupations that one person (including parents) engages in during his
working life.
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