ABSTRACT

          The study investigated the influence of family type and sizes on secondary school academic performance in Olorunda, Osun State. However both public and private were       the targeted population study. The instrumentation used which was performance data on students’ academic performance was obtained from their scores in two selected subjects of English and Mathematics. Data obtained was analysed using cross tabulation, tables, percentages. T-test was used to test the hypothesis and the result showed that there is no significant difference in the academic performance of students from small parent families and those from large parent families.  

          The study therefore revealed that family structure did not determine students’ academic performance, but parental socioeconomic background. Because irrespective of the family structure, students whose parents have better jobs and higher levels of income tends of have higher levels of literacy performance.

          From the research, it was revealed that education begins at an early period when the foundation of future life is laid. Education is an all round development of a person physically, intellectually and morally. Education is a process in which the societies through schools, colleges and university and other institutions deliberately transmit its cultural heritage and skills from one generation to the other. Education is power.

          The study therefore revealed that family structure did not determined student academic performance, but parental socioeconomic background.

          In order to improve students’ academic performance and reaction to life situations irrespective of their family structure, government and counselors were advised to provide the necessary psychological support for students from different family structure so as to overcome their emotional problems and improve academic performance.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

          Academic attainment is an important parameter in measuring success in students. Observations and reports have shown that success or high academic achievement has become a herculean task to accomplish by students in recent times poor academic performance were recorded both at the secondary and tertiary levels of education in Nigeria (Tenibiaje, 2009). The performance of students at all levels in educational institutions in Nigeria has attracted much criticisms from all and sundry from time immemorial. The decline in the academic performance of students in Nigerian Universities had been observed by Soyinka (1999), when he observed that University system in Nigeria needed restructuring. He went further to say that academic standard has fallen drastically and the quality of graduates being produced by the nation universities is questionable and subject to re-examination.

          Poor academic performance of students has been of great concern to educationists, guidance and counsellors in particular. Despite, all guidance programmes and counselling strategies mounted in schools to improve student’s academic students’ academic performances yet poor performances are recorded yearly.

          Family background is the foundation for children’s development, as such family background in terms of family structure, size, socio-economic status and educational background play important role in students’ educational attainment and social integration (Osunloye, 2008). However, reviewed literature indicated that there is an awareness of the importance of the home environment or family on siblings or children academic performance. The home has a great influence on the child’s psychological, emotional, social and economic state. In the view of Ajila and Olutola (2000), the state of the home affects the individual since the parents are the first socializing agents in an individual’s life. This is because the family background and context of a child affect his reaction to life situations and his level of performance.

          Family structure in terms of single and two parent families has been noted in the literature to have a significant influence on students’ performance and mental development (Tenibiaye, 2009, Eweniyi, 2005). This is because providing a supportive leaning environment at home requires parent time as much as financial resources.

          According to Salam and Alawode (2000), the existence of single parents in Nigeria is formerly unknown and where the existed they are ignored as exceptional cases. However, nowadays, they are fast growing family patterns both outside Nigeria. Although there are no available statistics of single-parent families in Nigeria (Salami and Alawode, 2000), practical experience and newspaper reports show that there is an increase of single parents in Nigeria. In the western countries, there is a growing increase in the percentage of adults and children living in single parent households (Nwachukwu, 1998). Single parent families have on average lower income than two-parent families and are thus more constrained in ensuring adequate financial resources to meet their children’s learning needs.

          In addition, since single parents must cope, with the double responsibility of work and child-rearing, it may be more challenging for them to provide and maintain a supportive learning environment for the children (OECD/UNESCO, 2003), such families according to Children’s Defence Funds (1994) are faced with the challenges of diminished financial resources, assumption of new roles and responsibilities, establishment of new patterns in founded, intra-familial interaction and reorganization of routines and schedules  (Agulara, 1999). These conditions are not conducive for effective parenting. This is because when the single parent is overburdened by responsibilities and by their own emotional reaction to their situation, they often become irritable, impatient and insensitive to their children’s needs which may affect children’s needs which may affect children performance in school (Nzewumunwah, 1995). This paper examines the impact of family structure (i.e single and two parent families) on the academic performance of students in public secondary schools in Olorunda Local Government of Osun State.

          In particular, it examines parental socio-economic background on students’ academic performance of students form single parent homes with students from two parent homes.

          In Nigeria, the existence of single-parents is formerly unknown and where they existed they are ignored as exceptional cases. However, nowadays, they are fast growing family patterns both inside and outside Nigeria (Nwachukwu, 1998). Although there are no available statistics of single-parents family in Nigeria. In the western countries, there is a growing increase in the percentage of adults and children living in single parent.