ABSTRACT

This study is on Influence of parental background on student academic performance in social studies among junior secondary school student in Lagos metropolis. The total population for the study is 200 staff of selected secondary schools in Lagos metropolis. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up principals, vice principals adm, senior staff and junior staff were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

Education is the process of transmitting what is worthwhile to members of the society. According to Okafor (1981). Education embraces all those experiences of the individual through which knowledge is acquired and intellect enlightened. For Nwabachili and Egbue (1993) education is what goes on from one generation to another generation. In this context, education is the process of socializing the child to grow up as a fulfilled member of the society through informal, formal and non-formal process. Informal education is the process of acquiring knowledge about the environment and beyond through living with one another. According to Nwabachili and Egbue (1993) formal education is a consciously planned form of socialization in a formal setting such as school. They stressed that non-formal education involve all those systematic programmes and processes of education and training that is done outside formal education setting. All these forms of education cannot be achieved without the influence of the family.

Family is the first social environment the child finds itself. According to Clifford (1981) family remains the primary environment of the child. The author emphasized that family environment has more chances of increasing or decreasing the intellectual achievement of the child. Akubue and Okolo (2008), defined family as a small kinship structural group with the key function of natural socialization of the new born. Similarly, in Okunniyi (2004), family is defined as a primary social group of parents, offspring and possibly other members of the household. Family background refers to all the conditions and circumstances in the family which influence the child physically, intellectually and emotionally Muola (2010). Children coming from different family backgrounds are affected different by such family conditions, that is why some children have good family background while some have poor background. Citing fleege, Eke (1999) noted that with some families, the background way vary from time to time for the same individuals.

The relationship between a student and his or her parents has been noted to have an influential impact on not only the student performance in school but also in his/her life generally. Parenting styles have been analysed and grouped by educationists. Numerous studies such as Baumrind, (1991), Maccoby & Martin, (1983), Mandara, (2006) and Micki, (2008), have shown that the parenting style experienced by children contribute in no small measure to the moulding of the behavioral pattern generally and specifically, the performance of the children. Miki (2008) noted that the relationship between parenting styles and their children’s performance has shown that parents can have a dramatic impact on their children’s performance, often resulting in a vast improvement. Also, though; not as preventing, it is also shown that parents can have a powerful impact on their children’s behaviour in the classroom and at other school based activities. At the junior secondary school level, social studies is one the core subjects, which, if effectively taught, according to Yusuf (2004), has the potential to influence all round development Nigerian youth. However, students’ performance in the subject shows growing decline in the Junior School Certificate Examination, observed by Yusuf (2004). In addition, the fluctuating performance is not restricted to any sex nor based on school location. For instance, Yusuf (2004) found that there is no significant difference in the performance of male and female students, when taught using c operative instructional strategy while school location had influence on students’ performance. One of the reasons for the poor performance of the students may be due to the parenting style adopted by their parents.

Parenting styles are different manners of parents’ child relationship. Parenting is a complex activity that includes mar specific behaviours that work individually and together to influence the child. Although specific parenting behaviours, such as spanking or reading aloud, may influence the child’s development, looking any specific behaviour in isolation may be misleading. However, they are people who have noted that specific parenting practices are less important in predicting child well-being than is the broad pattern of parenting. Most researchers who attempt to describe this broad parental milieu rely on Diana Baumrind’s concept of parenting style. The construct of parenting style is used to capture normal variations in parents’ attempts to control and socialize their children (Baumrind, 1991). According to Maccoby & Martin, (1983) and Taylor, Hinton, & Wilson, (1995), authoritative parents are both demanding and responsive. They monitor and impart clear standards for their children’s conduct with assertion, but not intrusive and restrictive. Their disciplinary methods are supportive, rather than punitive. They want their children to be assertive as well as socially responsible and self-regulated as well as cooperative. Base on this background the researcher wants to investigate Influence of parental background on student academic performance in social studies among junior secondary school student in lagos metropolis

• STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Most students in Nigerian secondary schools are in greater risk of poor academic achievement in both internal and external examinations (WAEC and NECO). Government, parents, teachers and students blame one another for students’ poor performance in schools. Parents blame teachers for lack of dedication to duties. The teachers blame government for poor salaries hence they are poorly motivated, parents also accuse government for not equipping the schools with learning materials, government blame parents for not doing good homework and the students are blamed for lack of discipline and dedication to their studies. In light of the above issues, the outstanding and relevant question is: what is the influence of parental background on academic performance in social studies among junior secondary school student?

• OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the study are;

1. To ascertain the relationship between parental background and student academic performance on social studies in junior secondary school
2. To ascertain the influence of parental occupation on students’ academic achievement.
3. To ascertain the motivation of parent to their children on the study of social studies
   • RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;

H₀: there is no relationship between parental background and student academic performance on social studies in junior secondary school

H₁: there is relationship between parental background and student academic performance on social studies in junior secondary school

H₀²: there is no influence of parental occupation on students’ academic achievement

H₂: there is influence of parental occupation on students’ academic achievement

• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Practically, the finding of this study will be useful to the following: the teachers, students, parents, school guidance counselors, Parents Teachers Association (PTA), educational administrators and the society at large.

The finding of the study will be of immense help to the teachers. The teachers will realize the necessity of individualizing their teaching by structuring their teaching methods and instructional resources to take care of the divergent parental backgrounds of the students. This method may yield more positive result than the traditional system which assumes that all children have similar family background. The findings of the study will also help teachers to exercise patience with slow-leaners as they vary methods of instruction to accommodate divergent family background.

The findings will be of immense importance to students. The students will realize that their poor performance might not necessarily be their fault alone, especially those from low status families.-Such knowledge will go a long way to reduce frustration in the students and also reduce drop-outs which occur as a result of frustration. Rather, thestudents should be made to adjust and help themselves by studying hard at home and also make proper of the books and materials that are provided for them at the school library.

Through the findings of this study, parents will realize the import acne of improving their educational standard so as to influence their children’s academic performance. Parents will also understand the need for them to improve their socio-economic status so as to be able to provide the necessary motivation in form of learning materials and other things which will enhance their children’s learning and their academic performance. They will equally acknowledge the importance of positive motivations and encouragement and provide some, by making the family environment more conducive for their children.

The school guidance counselors will also benefit from the findings of this study. They will be in position to guide and counsel students in the area of personal social interactions, academic performance and career choice.

The findings of the study will help Parents Teacher Associations (FTA) of school in promoting the academic performance of student. This is because FT A snorting, parents know their functions and responsibilities at home, to help solve their children’s problems both home and school environment.

The findings of the study will be of immense help to educational administrators. They will use the findings in the formulation of policy that will regulate equal educational opportunities for all children irrespective of their family background in the distribution of equipment, facilities and amenities to schools.

The findings of this study will help the society at large in identifying how family environmental variables – such as what parents’ level of education, parents’ income, parents’ occupation, parents’ motivation and family size on student’s academic performance. This will act as a check on increasing low academic performance among students, occasioned by the fact that some parents, teachers and counselors do not have adequate knowledge/input required of them.

• SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers Influence of parental background on student academic performance in social studies among junior secondary school student in Lagos metropolis . The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

 PARENTEL INFLUENCE: Parental influence is defined as any opinion, attitude, or action (other than direct tutoring) that somehow shapes or molds the child’s reading attitudes. Involvement is defined as any direct tutorial help the child receives with his or her reading

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: Academic performance is the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their short or long-term educational goals. Cumulative GPA and completion of educational benchmarks such as secondary school diplomas and bachelor’s degrees represent academic achievement.

SOCIAL STUDIES: social studies are the integrated study of multiple fields of social science and the humanities, including history, geography, and political science.