THE IMPACT OF PARENTAL MOTIVATION ON STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN TWO CONTRASTING SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN RIVERS STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Motivation is a theoretical concept that is used to explain behavior. It depicts the motivations behind people's behaviors, goals, and wants. According to Chandra, (2013), academic motivation has a major impact on school learning. According to Antoine (2015), poor motivation owing to insufficient study materials, a bad teaching environment, and a lack of professional subject teachers in the field of government education may jeopardize or constrain pupils who are not academically sound. He also urged that students be intellectually motivated since this will help to solve most of the problems in the school system as well as improve students' academic performance (Amponsah, Milledzi,  Twum Ampofo,  & Gyambrah, 2018).

Many educators and academics in the area of education throughout the world have been drawn to parental participation and motivation in children' academic progress.  In the United States of America (USA), for example, parental motivation and engagement was formed as a program for low-income kindergarten and first-grade pupils to continue compulsory schooling. Its implementation yielded great outcomes by providing parents with knowledge on how to assist their children with homework in order to improve their children's educational development. Being capable in education, efforts to promote parental engagement in school have had positive results. When parents motivate their children, it increases dedication and interests (Chandra, 2013). As a result, it is ideal for educationalists to guarantee that all problems that are regarded to impede parental participation are addressed, particularly in senior secondary schools where children' academic attainment is now dropping.

Motivation is the process through which individuals are compelled to enhance their behavior or performance as a result of internal (intrinsic) or external (extrinsic) causes. It is believed that student motivation will minimize, if not entirely eradicate, high school dropout rates, low enrollment rates, truancy, and other issues. Students should be intellectually motivated as this will help to solve most of the difficulties in the education system as well as improve students' academic performance.  Antoine (2015) stated that all parents, whether educated and uneducated, should be concerned about their children's educational needs. Furthermore, it is widely shown in  that parental motivation has a significant impact on kids' academic achievement. Intrinsic motivation is considered to come from inside the work itself. It occurs when a person is engaged in an activity in which he takes pleasure and obtains satisfaction (Gonzalez, 2012). Students need varying levels of motivation as this affects their psychology differently. Motivation from students can be said to be rare in this part of the world and this has been the cravings of most students.

The whole educational system depends on students' academic success. It is used to assess the efficacy of a school system. Not only do educational institutions have high expectations for their pupils in this respect, but parents do as well. Because it is often assumed that strong academic achievement leads to a bright future and more professional opportunities (Amponsah, Milledzi, Twum Ampofo, & Gyambrah, 2018). Academic success is often thought to represent information learned and marks assigned by instructors after evaluating that understanding. However, from an educational standpoint, it is the purpose of instructors or educational institutions to cognitively develop a person over a certain time period. Continuous assessments or tests will be used to assess this knowledge acquisition process Antoine, (2015). Learners' academic success is influenced by their intellectual capability, contextual conditions, and personal characteristics. Motivation from parents go a long way to stimulate high academic performance.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Academic Performance from secondary school students has been worrisome. It is claimed that parents of children in higher secondary levels assume their children are adults and as such do not need motivation (Gonzalez, 2012).  As a result, parents are as unconcerned as they were in elementary and middle school. Children in higher secondary school are older, but not yet mature enough to handle all of their obligations though it is assumed that they can. Parental motivation is still essential. In a research, (Antoine, 2015) discovered a downward tendency in parental motivation as pupils progressed through the grades. Factors contributing to this trend include children's greater liberty as they grow older, parents' lack of time management, and parental perceptions of their children's maturity level.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objective of this study is to assess the Impact of parental motivation on student academic achievement in two contrasting secondary schools in Rivers State. Other objectives of this study are:

a)        To examine the effects of parental motivation on academic achievement of students

b)        To investigate how effective parental motivation is on students academic achievement

c)        To examine the reasons for lack of parental motivation among students

d)       To investigate ways parents can motivate students in their academic pursuit.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

a)        What are the effects of parental motivation on the academic achievement of students?

b)        How effective is parental motivation on students academic achievement?

c)        What are the reasons for lack of parental motivation among students?

d)       What ways can parents motivate students in their academic pursuit?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will greatly be significant to parents and caretakers of secondary school students as they will see how beneficial motivation is to students and how it affects academic achievement. It will also be of great importance to school administrators and counsellor as they will urge parents to be involved in their wards academic lives.

This study will serve as an existing material for future reference and further research.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDENTS

This study will be focusing on the Impact of parental motivation on student academic achievement in two contrasting secondary schools in Rivers State. It will also be looking at the challenges parents face that caused their non involvement in their children’s academic life. This study will also highlight ways parents can motivate their wards thereby leading to a good academic achievement.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study was limited to Jephthah Comprehensive Secondary School and Brainfield Secondary school all in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. It will be limited to the impact of parental motivation on academic achievement and will not focus on any other impact.

During the course of this research, financial constraints were encountered.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Impact: marked effect or influence

Parents: A Persons father or mother

Motivation: reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way

Student:  a person enrolled in a school or other educational institution and who is under learning with goals of acquiring knowledge, developing professions and achieving employment at desired field

Achievement: a thing done successfully with skill, effort or courage

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