CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

            The responsibility of training a child always lies in the hand of the parents. This is congruent with the common assertion sociologist that education can be an instrument of cultural change which is being taught from home is relevant ion this discuss. It is not out of place to imagine that parental socio-economic can have possible effects on the academic achievement of children in school. Whatsoever affect the development environment of children would possibly affect their education or disposition to it. Parental status is one of such variables. When a woman’s nutritional status improves, so too does the nutrition of her young children (Lisa et. al, 2003). Rothestein has asserted as follows; Parents of different occupation classes often have different styles of child rearing, different ways of discipline  their children and different ways of reacting to their children. These differences do not express themselves consistently as expected in the case of every family, rather they influence the average tendencies of families for different occupational classes. (Rothestein, 2004).

            In line with the above ascertain, Hill etal (2004) had also argued that socio-economic status of parents do not only affect the academic performance, but also makes it possible for children from low background to compete well with their counterparts from high socio-economic background under the same academic environment. Moreover, Smith, Fagan and Ulvund (2002) had asserted that significant predicator of intellectual performance at age of 8 years included parental socio-economic status

            Socio-economic status and host of other factors relating to home environment of student such as educational background of parents, health status of students, parental occupation and family size could affect the children academic achievement.

            Socio-economic status can be defined as a person’s overall social position to which attainments in both the social and economic domain contribute. (Ainley etal, 1995).

            Socio-economic status is determined by individual achievements in education, employment, occupational status, income and wealth. Several parents may provide higher levels of psychological support for their children through environment that encourage the development of skills necessary for success at school (Williams etal, 1980, Williams, 1987, Williams etal 1993).

            Socio-economic status is commonly conceptualized as the social standing or class of an individual or group. It is often measured as a combination of education, income and occupation. Examinations of socio-economic status often reveal inequities in access to resources, plus issues related to privilege, power and control.

            The children that comes from low socio-economic households develop academic skills more slowly compared to the children from higher socio-economic background. The rates of school drop out can be traced to the socio-economic status of the parents.

The financial resources or time availability of parents that are of low socio-economic background can not be compared to that of the high socio-economic background. It is very well known that children’s educational outcomes vary sharply with their parents’ socio-economic background. Differences in out comes with parental background emerge early at the pre-school level and are re-inforced in childhood and the teenage years through to tertiary education.

1.2       STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

            The research is interested in knowing the effects of the socio-economic background of parents on the academic performance of student. A case study of Odeda Local Government.

            All students is from a particular socio-economic background either high or low socio-economic background. This is what makes the researcher to be interested in those obstacles, constraints and the hindrances that the socio-economic background of parent can pose on the academic performance of students.   

1.3       PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of this study are identified below:

1)    To find out the effect of parental socio-economic status on student’s academic performance.

2)    To determine the effects of educational status of the parent on academic performance of students.

3)    To analyze the impacts of educational qualification on student’s academic performance.

4)    To find out if there is any link between status of students and their academic performance.

1.4       RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions were asked:

1)    Will parental socio-economic status have significant effect on the academic achievement of students?     

2)    Will parental educational background has significant effect on student’s academic achievement?

3)    Will parental qualification has significant effect on the academic achievement of students?

4)    How can the academic achievement of students be improved irrespective of their parents’ socio-economic status?

1.5       SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The research work deals with the effect of socio-economic background of parents on the academic performance of student. It will focus on how the parent’s socio-economic background has affect the academic performance of students both positively and negatively.

The research was carried out within five selected secondary schools in Odeda Local Government. They are:

1)    Salawu Abiola Comprehensive High School Osiele Abeokuta.

2)    Nawair-Ud-deen Grammar School Obantoko Abeokuta

3)    Egba Odeda Comprehensive High School Odeda

4)    F.C.E Model Secondary School Osiele Abeokuta.

5)    Emmanuel International College Obantoko

1.6       SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY     

This study will help to show various ways by which the socio-economic background of parents affects the academic performance of the students both positively and negatively.

This research will be of tremendous help to the government, the parents and the general public at large so as to make sure that all the constraints, obstacles in the socio-economic background/status are solved and proffer a lasting solution to them.

The findings in this research work will help the parents to fine-tune their strategies in developing a high socio-economic status so that it will help in developing their children academically and to help in discovering their traits of leadership qualities and to fully realized their potentials and also help in promoting effective learning of their children.   

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