THE IMPACT OF SINGLE PARENTING ON SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS' SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENTS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The family is a child's initial point of interaction with the outside world. As a consequence, the kid receives early education and socialization from his or her parents and other prominent family members. According to Agulana (2000), the family provides the psychological, moral, and spiritual framework for the child's total growth. Family/home structures are either shattered or complete. In this sense, a broken household is one that is not structurally solid as a result of divorce, separation, the death of one of the parents, or illegitimacy. According to Frazer (2004), psychological home circumstances are mostly caused by child illegitimacy, the label of adopted kid, shattered households, divorce, and parental deprivation. Such aberrant home settings are likely to have a negative impact on the child's school achievement.

Life can be hard for both the a child and the parent in a single parent household or a broken home. Inadequate financial resources provide a barrier for such families (children defense find 2004).

According to Schults (2006), when adolescents from unstable households are compared to those from stable homes, the former have higher social, intellectual, and emotional issues. According to Rochlkepartain (2003), the family and its structure play a significant effect in children's academic achievement. According to Levin (2001), parents are likely the actors with the most vested interest in their children's academic achievement. To some extent, there is clear evidence that marital instability causes stress, tension, a lack of motivation, and dissatisfaction. These manifestations, clearly, have a detrimental impact on a child's academic achievement.

Single-parenthood is described as when one of two persons who are responsible for nurturing and child raising is unavailable, and the task that was previously done by two people is now done by only one person. According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, single-parenting is described as a mother or father caring for children on their own, without the assistance of the other partner. Single-parenting is described as a circumstance in which one of the two adults involved in the child's conception is responsible for the child's upbringing (Osunloye, 2008). Single-parenthood can occur when either the male or female decides to have and raise a kid or children outside of marriage (Ortesse, 1998).

Notably, single-parenthood was unknown in Nigeria, and if it did exist, it was seen as an exception. However, family patterns are rapidly changing both within and outside of Nigeria. Parental duties are culturally structured and allocated among Yorubas in Nigeria. The maternal roles include child-rearing, home training, and playing complementary tasks, whereas the paternal ones include economic responsibility and child discipline. When both parents share the caring obligations, the child is morally, cognitively, and emotionally stable.

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Academic achievement is a key factor in determining student success. According to observations and assessments, success or high academic accomplishment has become a monumental struggle for pupils in recent years. Poor academic performance is observed on an annual basis in Nigeria at both the secondary and university levels of education (Tenibiaje, 2009). Since time immemorial, the performance of pupils at all levels in Nigerian educational institutions has been heavily criticized by all and everyone. This pattern has led some observers to believe that poor academic performance by business studies students is not unrelated to the family structure in which the kid is reared.

Most homes in Nigeria are not intact as a consequence of incompatibility difficulties between spouses, the loss of a parent, the desire for oversea journeys to generate more money, and, at times, marital adultery. Couples and children have been separated as a result of this. This is extremely obvious in several areas of the federation, where most young females forsake their homes and embark on oversea excursions to get money. Some men who migrate overseas forsake their houses and refuse to connect with their families back home, leaving children from such households in a difficult situation, particularly in terms of adjustment.

Furthermore, a single parent is saddled with twice the duties, necessitating the parent's time, attention, and money. As a result, less emphasis is placed on the child's education. Teachers frequently characterize single-parent children as more hostile, aggressive, nervous, afraid, hyperactive, and distractible than children from intact families (Tenibiaje, 2011). To guarantee that children's social, psychological, moral, and academic development is adequate and balanced. Each parent has crucial and unique responsibility for their children's psychological, educational, and vocational development. However, the emergence and subsequent acceptance of single parenthood has twisted these complimentary roles. This, in turn, has had a negative influence on the children's overall upbringing, including their psychological well-being and school success. Upon this premise that this  research seeks to examine the impact of single parenting on secondary school students' academic achievements

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The broad objective of this study is to investigate the impact of single parenting on secondary school students' school achievements. Specifically, this research set out to:

i.          To examine the causes of  single parenting among   secondary school students' parent.

ii.        To highlight the extent at which single parenthood affect secondary school students cognitive and social development.

iii.      To investigate the challenges student from single parent background face in their schooling.

iv.      To ascertain whether there is any significant impact of single-parenthood on   student school pupils' academic achievement.

1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The research is guided by the following research hypothesis:

Ho1: The the extent at which single parenthood affect secondary school student cognitive and social development is low.

Hi1: The the extent at which single parenthood affect secondary school student cognitive and social development is high.

Ho2: There is no significant impact of single-parenthood on secondary school students' academic achievement.

Hi2: There is a significant impact of single-parenthood on secondary school students' academic achievement.

1.5   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is expected that the result obtained from this study apart from identifying the effect of single-parenthood on pupils academic achievement will also be of great value to curriculum planner’s and teachers. Since this study tends to look at the effect of single parenthood on pupils academic achievement and the solutions to bring about positive changes in pupils academic performance. This study is also expected to draw the attention of educators, parent and government to need for single parenthood reduction through a decrease in divorce rate and increase in household income. Also, this study tends to give great relief to the parent who are either widows or widowers on the way to train their children in a right form for better future.   The study will also serve as a reference material to scholars and student who wishes to conduct further studies in related field.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope  of this study  boarders on  the  influence of single parenthood on  secondary school students' academic achievement.  The study will further examine the causes of  single parenting among   secondary school students' parent,  highlight the extent at which single parenthood affect secondary school student cognitive and social development., investigate the challenges pupil from single parent background face in their schooling and ascertain whether there is any significant influence of single-parenthood on  secondary school students' academic achievement.The study is however delimited to selected secondary  schools in Agbo Local government in Cross Delta  State.

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. The significant constraint was the scanty literature on the subject owing that it is a new discourse thus the researcher incurred more financial expenses and much time was required in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size covering only secondary  schools in  Agbo Local government in Delta State. Thus findings of this study cannot be used for generalization for other primary schools in other states within Nigeria. Additionally, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work will impede maximum devotion to the research. Howbeit, despite the constraint  encountered during the  research, all factors were downplayed in other to give the best and make the research successful.