THE IMPACT OF CHILD ABUSE ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

All parents share the delight of bearing children and nurturing them to the point where they may reach their full potential in life. However, when children are not properly cared for by their parents or caretakers, those youngsters are frequently exposed to a variety of behaviors that obstruct their life ambitions. Many of the children are frequently subjected to maltreatment or abuse at the hands of their parents, caretakers, and other members of their communities Shonk & Cicchetti (2001). Thus, child abuse is a practice in which elderly people maltreat, assault, or deny youngsters of essential requirements in the home, street, religious houses, or at school. Child abuse can cause physical, emotional, and sexual trauma to children, as well as death. It is brought about by poverty, a lack of parental attention, unemployment, marital strife, and polygamous households. Both male and female victims of child abuse suffer anguish. Harmful behaviors on the part of children's instructors, parents, classmates, guardians, siblings, so-called mentors, and society in general may also contribute to child abuse in numerous ways (Chalk, Gibbons, & Scarupa 2002). Thus, child abuse is not an uncommon occurrence in Nigeria. There is no longer a safe place for children since it is ubiquitous.

Chalk, Gibbons, & Scarupa (2002) asserted that child maltreatment has a detrimental effect on the kid's physical, psychological, and behavioral development. However, in a real-world context, it is impossible to debate them separately. Physical difficulties (for example, the loss of a growing brain in a kid) might result in psychological symptoms (for example delay in cognitive development). Psychological impacts manifest mostly as high-risk behaviors that might have a negative impact on the abused child's academic performance and, eventually, the economy. Additionally, Shonk & Cicchetti (2001) supported this notion in their study by revealing that maltreated youngsters typically have bad marks in school and do not flourish in society, hence slowing the economy. Alokan & Olatunji (2014) discovered a positive correlation between child maltreatment and children's concentration in class and academic achievement in Nigeria using a sample of 200 instructors. This results in mistreated children being unable to concentrate in class, which has a severe effect on the Nigerian economy. Additionally, Umobong (2010) stated that child maltreatment is now common in schools, having a detrimental effect on children's scholastic development and the economy, particularly in areas of joblessness. Gaudin (1999) also asserted that neglected and abused children had poor IQ as a result of their neglect and abuse. Since a result, the economy suffers, as mistreated children are unable to make substantial contributions to the economy.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The growing number of students and learners, as well as those who are not in school, hawking and selling things on the country's streets and school grounds is a cause for worry that requires adequate action (Alokan & Olatunji 2014). The majority of youngsters appear emaciated and unwell, while some are in pain after being beaten and abused by criminals. The majority of these children are sent out there by their parents or caregivers; the majority of parents are interested in what the child can bring to the family through sells (hawking goods) or giving oneself for money; many drop out of school as early as primary school to engage in prostitution or street begging, while others are employed as househelps or in other menial jobs to help support the family (Edo, 2016). As a result, the child's moral and social growth is unsupported by schooling, and their academic performance suffers. This piqued the researcher's interest in examining the impact of child abuse on academic achievement in Nigeria, specifically in Kwara state.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The primary objective of this study is to examine the impact of child abuse on students academic achievement. Specifically but not limited to, other objectives of this study are:

i.          To examine the prevalence of child abuse in Nigeria

ii.        To determine if child abuse has an influence student’s academic performance.

iii.      To examine the effects of child abuse on the academic performance of students.

iv.      To examine ways the scourge of child abuse can be mitigated in Nigeria.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following questions will be answered in this study:

i.          Is child abuse prevalent in Nigeria?

ii.        Does child abuse have an influence student’s academic performance?

iii.      What are the effects of child abuse on the academic performance of students?

iv.      What are the ways the scourge of child abuse can be mitigated in Nigeria?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The various organizations have continued to emphasize the need to stop child abuse and abuse but it seems almost impossible.

The findings from this study will contribute to a broader efforts most effectively targeted on the work that is damaging to the children’s education or academic development. It is to show the extent to which child abuse affects the children’s school attendance and their academic performance.

Finally, this study will go further in helping researchers with more information on the effects of social media on student’s academic performance.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study will focus on examining the impact of child abuse on students academic achievement. Specifically, it will focus on examining the prevalence of child abuse in Nigeria, determining if child abuse has an influence student’s academic performance, examining the effects of child abuse on the academic performance of students and examining ways the scourge of child abuse can be mitigated in Nigeria.

Teachers and students of selected secondary schools in Damaturu, Yobe State will serve as participants for the survey of this study.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study will be limited to examining the impact of child abuse on students academic achievement. Specifically, it will be limited to examining the prevalence of child abuse in Nigeria, determining if child abuse has an influence student’s academic performance, examining the effects of child abuse on the academic performance of students and examining ways the scourge of child abuse can be mitigated in Nigeria.

Teachers and students of selected secondary schools in Damaturu, Yobe State will serve as participants for the survey of this study, thus the sample size was limited because only a few respondents were chosen to answer the research instrument, therefore the results cannot be generalized to other secondary schools outside the state.

1.8  DEFINITION OF TERMS

Impact: A marked effect or influence

Child abuse: Physical, sexual, or emotional ill-treatment or neglect of a child, especially by those responsible for its welfare

Academic achievement: According to “Wikipedia” Academic performance or "academic achievement" is the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has attained their short or long-term educational goals. Completion of educational benchmarks such as secondary school diplomas and bachelor's degrees represent academic achievement. Academic performance also means the knowledge and skills that students have mastered in a subject or a course. It’s basically a measure of how well students have performed in the various assessment items set for them based on some educational criteria determined by professional educators.