AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE EFFECT OF MOTHERS CAREER ON THE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF THEIR CHILDREN

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The need to ensure that all children in Nigeria have access to an education of sufficient caliber prompted the Federal Government to re-establish the universal basic education system, which mandates that all children in Nigeria attend school free of charge and must do so from basic one through basic mine. Because of this need, the different levels of government have come up with a set of incentives that they hope would persuade parents to enroll their children in school (Fagbemi, 2020). Due to the fact that the quality of education in Nigeria has been steadily deteriorating over the course of the years in terms of accomplishment in written and oral exams, the efforts of the Federal Government have not produced any fruitful outcomes despite the government's best efforts. The rate of participation of students in examination malpractices has reached an alarming level, which contributes to the poor performance of Nigerian students in public examinations such as those administered by the National Examination Council (NECO), the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and the National Business and Technical Council (NABTEC). The picture that has been portrayed is that Nigerian students are more interested in engaging in unsavory academic activities than they are in really studying. Because of this change in the way the educational system works, it has become a problem, and the parties involved are looking into what factors could have contributed to this change. It has been hypothesized that one of the primary contributors to the decline of virtue in Nigeria's school system is the country's parents. The rising cost of living has encouraged many mothers to look for work outside the home rather than fulfill their traditional responsibilities of caring for their children. In the ancient social structures of Africa, women are expected to remain at home and care for their families (Parker, 2020). The children first acquire knowledge of the standards and responsibilities of society via their interaction with them. The youngsters mature into responsible adults with a strong moral compass and a strong work ethic throughout this time span. Many women are forced to enter the workforce in today's society because they are expected to contribute financially to the maintenance of their households and the upbringing of their offspring. Providing women with equal access to educational opportunities has allowed them to excel in their academic and professional pursuits. Women work in a variety of fields, including law, accounting, engineering, architecture, medicine, aviation, and more (Parker, 2020). The majority of these jobs do not provide them enough time to fulfill the customary responsibilities that are expected of women in the house. Therefore, parents will have to rely on the assistance of the third party in order to ensure the health and safety of their children. Where do these women's children go while their mothers are out working? Are they capable of achieving the maximum level of educational growth that is anticipated for them? Is it feasible for mothers who work full-time to raise children who are successful in school? In light of this, the purpose of this research is to investigate the effect that women who are employed outside the home have on the academic growth of their children.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

There is a widespread misconception that moms who work outside the home have a detrimental impact on their children's intellectual development. It is widely held that children who are raised by working mothers have a slower rate of cognitive development throughout their formative years (Parker, 2020). These children do not have the luxury of having motherly care, and their moms provide less assistance for them in terms of being supported with their household chores. These children also do not have the opportunity to have motherly care. Due to the fact that they are at home, kids are not under adult supervision, and as a result, they are more likely to be exposed to mainstream media, which does not portray healthy social standards.

When it comes to the only people in their lives who can be trusted and relied on, these kids don't have anybody to turn to for assistance when they need it (Parker, 2020). Because of this, they participate in all manner of social vices because the mass media, which have effectively become their "foster parents," have taught them to behave in this manner. They engage in behaviors that are considered to be sexually immoral, such as smoking, fighting, committing sexual immorality, and cheating on exams, and a significant number of them are succumbing to the effects of drugs, cigarettes, sexual abuse, homosexuality, alcohol, cultism, and street fighting in order to examine the influence of working mothers on the educational growth of their children.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objectives of this study is to investigate the effect of mothers career on the educational attainment of their children . Specifically, the Sub-objectives of the study include:

i.          To examine the effect of mothers  career on the educational attainment of children.

ii.        To identify the extent at which mothers' career influences their children moral development.

iii.      To find out whether mothers career and their level of education significantly affect their  children s scores in examination.

iv.      To investigate whether lack of  attention due to mothers career influences the art of delinquency among children in school.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

i.          What is the effect of mothers  career on the educational attainment of children?

ii.        What is the extent at which mothers' career influences their children moral development?

iii.      Do  mothers career and their level of education significantly affect their  children s scores in examination?

iv.      Does  lack of  attention due to mothers career influences the art of delinquency among children in school?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The rate of low academic achievement and lack of moral among the school children in Nigeria are calling for concerted effort to examine the impact of working mothers on their children. These problems have attracted the concerns of the stakeholders in education, family and society. Therefore, this study will provide some insights to all stakeholders in education, family and society by bringing to limelight some basis but unclarified issue regarding the working mothers and their children educational development to that extent, it may hopefully serve as a basis for government in among out with good policy on women who are working and rearing children. 

The study will also be significant to the academic community as it will contribute to the existing literature. 

1.6   SCOPE  OF  THE STUDY

This study will examine the effect of mothers  career on the educational attainment of children. The study will also identify the extent at which mothers' career influences their children moral development. The study will further find out whether mothers career and their level of education significantly affect their  children s scores in examination. Lastly, the study will investigate whether lack of  attention due to mothers career influences the art of delinquency among children in school. Hence the study will be delimited to Akwa Ibom State.

1.7  LIMITATION OF THE  STUDY

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire, and interview), which is why the researcher resorted to a moderate choice of sample size. More so, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

1.8   DEFINITION OF TERMS

Career mothers: These are women who are mothers and at the same time engage in work.

Impact: This is the influence a variable has on another variable. In this study, it is the influence that working mothers have on their children educational development.

Educational attainment: This is the qualitative and quantitative development of the children in terms of what they acquire in education.