Abstract
This study investigated the influence of broken homes on academic achievement of secondary school students in Nsukka Education Zone of Enugu State.
The study was guided by five research questions and two null hypotheses. Ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study.
The sample size for the study comprised of 450 secondary school students from broken homes in the study area. Two different instruments were used for this study.
The first instrument was in broken Home Questionnaire (BHQ) designed to collect data on students’ family structure (broken or intact) and their academic challenges while the second was students academic performance checklist.
The instrument was face validated by experts in the faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Cronbach Alpha method was used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument.
The data were analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions while the hypotheses were tested using t-test.
The major findings of the study revealed that secondary school students from broken homes within Nsukka Education Zone face education challenges like lack of sufficient text books, inability to meet education related financial obligations, poor academic performance and lack of concentration while in school.
Also, result showed that secondary school students from broken homes within Nsukka Education Zone face emotional challenges like emotional stress, despair, inferiority complex, feeling insecure and unhappiness.
Introduction
Background of Study
The family is the child’s first place of contact with the world. The child as a result, acquires initial education and socialization from parents and other significant persons in the family.
Agulana (1999) defined a family as the smallest unit of the society made up of people leaving in the same house. Agulana pointed out that the family lays the psychological, moral, and spiritual foundation in the overall development of the child.
Alesina and Giuliano (2007) added that the family is one of the most important socio economic institution in the society, but the nature of the links between family members varies dramatically across nationalities.
Family is broadly defined as any two people who are related to each other through a genetic connection, adoption, marriage, or by mutual agreement (Yara & Tunde-Yara, 2010).
According to Bonnie (2001), family members share emotional and economic bonds. Operationally, a family is the smallest unit of the society that is made up of people who are related by blood.
Structurally, a family is either broken or intact. The child is morally upright and emotionally stable when the caring responsibilities are carried out by both parents.
The family is the first socializing agent the child comes in contact with. It has great influence on the child’s physical, mental, and moral development.
The family lays the foundation of education before the child goes to school and the personality that the child takes to school is determined by the home. Salami (1998) pointed out that both parents have roles to play in child education.
References
Adeyemo, S. A. (2010). Background and classroom correlates of students’ achievement in Physics. International Journal of Educational Research and Technology, 1(1); 25 – 34
Agbedanu, E. (2012). The impact of Broken Homes on the academic performance of the Ghanaian child and its Human Rights Implication: – A Case Study at TemaManhean JHS. Constitutional Protection of Human Rights.
Agulana, G. (1999). Family structure and prevalence of behavioural problems among Nigerian adolescents.Counsellor; 17(1): 151-154.
Agulanna, G. (2000) in Uwaifo, V.O. (2008). “The effects of family structure and parenthood on the academic performance of Nigerian University Students”, Stud Home CommSci, 2(2): 121-124 (2008).
Akomolafe, M. J. & F. Olorunfemi-olabisi (2011).Impact of family type on secondary school students’ academic performance in Ondo State, Nigeria.European Journal of Educational Studies 3(3):481-487
Akomolafe, M. J. & Olorunfemi-olabisi, F.A (2011).Impact Of Family Type On Secondary School Students’ Academic Performance In Ondo State, Nigeria. European Journal of Educational Studies 3(3); 481-487.
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