ABSTRACT
The study was carried out to
determine the effects of child abuse on academic achievement of post primary
school pupils in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State and also
the ways for preventing or eradicating child abuse. The researcher adopted
survey research design and sampled two hundred and ninety students and teachers
of JSIII from the five chosen schools out of nine schools. The total population
was 2,897 (two thousand, eight hundred and ninety-seven) students and teachers
and the ten percent were used for the sampling. An instrument styled
students-teachers opinion questionnaire and research questions were used to
guide the study towards achieving appropriate results. It was found from the
data analysis, that child abuse includes physical abuse, sexual abuse,
emotional abuse and neglect which were attributed to domestic violence, single
parenthood, and lack of parenting skills and low socio-economic status while
others are seen as deliberate act. From the findings, it was discovered that
child abuse leads to cognitive impaired (including having a lower intellectual
quotient and cognitive development; lower grades and educational achievement)
and low self-esteem. Based on that, it was recommended that government should
support public awareness program on the ills of child abuse to the society and
family planning exercise should also be enforced upon every couples so that
family con procreate the number of children they can properly care for.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title page - - - - - - i
Approval page - - - - - - - - ii
Certification - - - - - - - - iii
Dedication - - - - - - - iv
Acknowledgements - - - - - v
Table of Contents - - - - - vi
Abstract - - - - - - viii
CHAPTER
ONE:
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study - - - - -
- 1
Statement of the Problem - - - - 3
Purpose of the Study - - - - - 3
Research Questions - - - - - - 4
Significance of the Study - - - - - 4
Scope of the Study - - - - - - 5
CHAPTER
TWO: REVIEW
OF RELATED LITERATURE
Conceptual Framework - - - - - - 6
Forms of Child Abuse - - - - - 8
Causes of Child Abuse - - - - 10
Effects of Child Abuse on academic achievement of students -12
Eradication or Prevention of Child Abuse - 14
Theoretical Framework - - - - 16
Empirical Framework - - - - - 17
Summary of Literature Review - - - 18
CHAPTER
THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design - - - - - 20
Area of study - - - - - - - 20
Population of the study - - - - - 21
Sample
and sampling techniques --- - - 21
Instrument
for data collection - --- - - 23
Validation
of the instrument - - - - 23
Reliability
of the instrument - - --- - 23
Method
of data collection - - - - 24
Method
of data analysis - - - - - - 24
Decision
rule - - 26
Chapter
Four: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
Research
question 1- - - - - - 26
Research question 2 - - - - - 27
Research question 3 - - - - - 28
Summary of findings - - - - - - 30
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION OF
FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
Discussion of findings - -- - - - - - - - - - - - 31
Conclusion - - - - 33
Implication
of the study - - - - 33
Recommendations - - - - 34
Limitation
of the study - - - - 35
Suggestions
for further studies - - - - 35
Reference - - - - 36
Appendix - - - - - 40
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background
of the Study
It has been a primary objective of
principals and teachers in schools to make their students attain a high
standard of academic achievement. However, many factors hinder the attainment
of such a good objective. One of such factors has been identified as related to
child abuse among students. There is a general outcry nowadays among educators,
parents and even the government about the decline in the academic performance
of students in Nigerian secondary school at large.
Ogaigal,
(2012) observed that there was a fall in the academic achievement of students.
This poor achievement was evident in the result of previous West African
Examination as well as the Senior School Certificate Examination. The trend up
till now, has been a gradual deterioration from year to year. Thus, some
educators have been concerned about how to improve students’ academic achievement.
In attributing causes for poor achievement, Olaofe (2011) mentioned three
factors namely, the tender age at which children now attend school compared
with the age at which parents did, the poor understanding of English language
by the students, and the employment of inappropriate categories of teachers in
secondary schools.
Other researchers such as Adediran,
(2012) also identified other causes like shortage of teachers in schools,
non-availability of teaching materials, the use of unqualified teachers, lack
of adequate supervision, indiscipline, truancy and student's degree of
self-concept.
From the various causes mentioned so
far, it seems that Nigerian researchers and educators have not given great
attention to behavioural exhibition like child abuse. However, Ige (2010)
observed that school achievement of children could be predicted from child
abuse as well as from other attitudinal, school, family or teacher variables.
Thus, it is worthwhile to examine if child abuse affects academic achievement.
Child abuse, according to Ige (2011) includes psychological maltreatment that
threatens the child's emotional development. In this part of world, the term
child abuse has little or no meaning to many people especially those in the
rural areas and who particularly indulge in child labour. Child labour here
refers to what some parents do when they give work to be performed by children
that either endangers their health or safety, interfere with or prevent their
education or keeps them from play and other activity necessary for their
development. Other forms of child abuse include early child marriage,
malnutrition, sexual abuse, separation from parents, physical and psychological
maltreatment in the family (Patron 2013).
Estimates of the prevalence of child
abuse very widely depending on the definition used, while most developed
nations have laws requiring that cases of abuse be reported to law enforcement
agencies, there is practically nothing being done about the issue in third
world countries. As a result, so many cases of child abuse go unreported. It
seems that many people are ignorant of the term child abuse.
Some of the
incidence of child abuse with their various effects includes, the home
socio-economic condition where malnutrition, poverty and child labour exists.
This in most cases leads to prolonged illness and non-availability of
textbooks. Also according to Ige (2005) parental
neglect, that is, when the child lives with guardians, like step parents and in
welfare institution is another form of child abuse. The effects of this in most
cases include fear of foster-parents, school insecurity, malnutrition and child
labour. There are also cases of unsatisfactory home backgrounds that is
divorced parents, alcoholics as parents and care free parents. The effects of
these includes insecurity truancy and non-chalant attitude on the part of
students.
Since these causes and their various
effects are still here with us today, it is worthwhile then to examine how
these may have damaging effects on children's academic achievement.
Statement of the Problem
Child abuse has a deteriorating
effect on child development. This becomes obvious when one view, it from
treatment meted to the children from broken homes, and mere parental neglect.
The
following are some abuses meted on children
·
Child
prostitution through hawking.
·
Inadequate
care for the children by parent and guardian in terms of providing basic needs.
·
Exposure
to danger of death or harm through kidnapping.
·
Deprivation
of certain children's right both in the home and at school.
Purpose
of the Study
This study is to investigate the
various forms of child abuse and how these relate to students achievement in
JSS III. Specifically, the study sought to determine the following:
i.
To
determine the practices that constitute child abuse and some of its causes.
ii.
To
examine the effects of child abuse on academic achievement of the children in post
primary schools in Orumba South
iii.
Ascertain
the ways of preventing or eradicating child abuse in post primary schools.
Research
Questions
The following research questions guided
the researcher in this study.
1.
What
are the practices that constitute to child abuse in post primary schools in Orumba
South Local Government Area?
2.
What
are the effects of child abuse on academic achievement of the children of post
primary schools in Orumba South?
3.
In
what ways can child abuse be prevented or eradicated in post primary schools in
Orumba
South Local Government Area?
Significance of the study
The findings of this study will benefit parents/students,
peer groups, government and educational personnels to have alternative way of
child rearing without abuse. There will be improvement on children enrolment in
the school as the findings of the study will be known to the society at large.
Education Personnel: This study will also help the
educational personnel's to comprehend what causes child abuse (such like
working in the teacher's farm during school hours, sex abuse by senior
students, lack of teaching aids etc), its perpetuating force and effect. So
that they will know where and how to fight it.
Peer Group: This study will help the peer
groups to dissociate themselves from bad behaviors. It will lead them to
comprehend that the abused child is never happy, always in need of help.
The Government: It will also help the government to
know the various forms of child abuse, the implications of its social ill and
formulate suitable policies which will finally help to reduce problem of child
abuse and highlight child's right.
Scope
of the Study
The study is delimited to the effect
of child abuse on academic achievement of post primary school students in Orumba
South Local Government Area of Anambra
State.
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