Social Consequences of Broken Homes on the Academic Performance of Children: a Case Study of Iguekhiho Community in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State
CHAPTER ONE
AIM OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this is to investigate into the home background and students academic performance with comparative studies on whether children from broken home perform well academically
The objectives of the study are:-
- To determine the number of pupils of students from broken home in the selected primary school in Iguelahia community Area.
- To determine whether actually broken homes have any effect on children, students or pupils academic achievement.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
In this chapter, relevant literature on the influence of broken homes on pupil academic performance has been reviewed. Literature review will be presented according to the following subheadings; Trends on divorce ,causes of broken homes and causes of poor performance by children from broken homes.
Trends on Divorce
The divorce rate has been rising rapidly in modern society. Divorce means the end of marriage, but does not necessarily mean the end of the family, as most of the divorces occur between people who have children. One parent usually leaves the household but the family remains.
Let us look at several countries to see how the popularity of divorce has led to the further erosion of marriage. The divorce rate in Zambia is on the increase. The 2000 Census of population and housing indicate that 21.0 percent of female were divorced while 1.9 percent of male were divorced.
On the other hand 10.5 percent of female headed households were separated, while the proportion for separated male headed households was only 1.3 percent. A similar trend was observed for the proportion of households widowed.
The percentage of widowed female headed households was 45, while 2.5 percent of male headed households were widowed (C.S.O: 2001). For children, the loss of a parent through divorce is sometimes comparable to loss from death depending on the circumstances of the child. For example, one in two marriages in the United Kingdom and the United States ends in divorce. African statistics are harder to come by. Divorce was also common in Jesus’ days. According to Census of population and housing report, “the number of divorced couples quadrupled between 1970 and 1996” Roughly, 1 in 5 adults has been lashed by the destructive winds of divorce. The question that comes to mind by many responsible people is that; who are the most vulnerable to marriage failures? Statistics show that about 60 percent of all divorces occur within the first ten years. In other countries too, divorce rates have soared. The total number of divorces in England and Wales reached 153, 490 in 2004. Australians can expect about 40 percent of their marriages to end in divorce.(Awake July, 2006)
The Republic of Korea saw an increase of 21, 800 divorces in just one year – from 2002 to 2003
– a total of 167,100 couples divorced. Japan, where 1 in every 4 marriages ends in divorce, is now approaching Europe divorce rate. “Once upon a time it was only the very worst marriages that would end in divorce” observed an expert in family studies at the Japan Red Cross University. “Now it has become a simple life style” (Awake July, 2006)
In many countries, long standing religious institutions and social traditions contributed to marriage stability. However, they can no longer stop the rising tide of social acceptance of divorce. For instance, consider the Roman Catholic Church, where marriage is regarded as something sacred. In 1983, the church relaxed its rules concerning marriage bonds and made it easier for Catholics to end marriage. Hence, annulment has increased since then.
In Oklahoma among the top five states in frequency of divorce, with 6 per 1000 in 1998. Governor, Frank Keating is urging Ministers, Lawyers, Psychologists and others to mount a campaign to reduce the divorce rate by a third within ten years. In Arkansas, also in the top five with 6.1 per 1000, the Governor has declared a ‘marital emergency’ and is seeking to half the divorce rate in the next ten years. But what about when it all breaks down? Is there life after divorce after the love has gone? The question many are asking today is why divorce has sky rocketed so much?(Awake July, 2006)
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 INTRODUCTION
This chapter deals mainly with the methodology or strategies in which the researchers used in collecting valid and reliable information and data for the stud, which includes:
- Research design
- Population and sample
- Research instrument
- Procedure for data collection
- Method of data analysis
RESEARCH DESIGN
The research is survey design on the effect of broken homes on academic achievement of students in selected schools in Iguelahia community Area.
Ndagi (1984), survey research is a type of descriptive research in which respondents for testing hypothesis concerning the states of some educational problem are measures. It is also techniques involving larger number of persons and described population characterized by the selected of unbiased sample.
It involved using questionnaire and sometimes interview test and generalizing the result of the survey to the population from which it’s drawn.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY
This research work studied the effects of broken home on student’s academic achievement in Iguelahia community Area.
The work was organized into five chapters. Chapter one presented the background of the study, statement of the problem, objectives of the study, research question, relevance the study, scope of the study and operational definition of terms.
Chapter two also presented the review of related literatures by some researchers and educational covering the theoretical framework and nature of broken homes, and it relation to achievements, implication of divorce of academic achievement, broken home implication to the teachers in school setting, summary of literature review and uniqueness of the study.
Chapter three comprises of research design, population and sample research instruments, procedure for data collection and method of data analysis.
Chapter four also consist of presentation and analysis of data discussion of results.
Chapter five covered summary, conclusion, recommendation and suggestions for further studies.
CONCLUSION
The study conclude that, most of the respondents are not staying with their parents. They perform below expectation due to the, lack of security care and discipline in school are not been paid.
The study further concluded that some of the factors which causes psychological effects on students academic achievement as a result of broken home, are lack of care security and discipline.
RECOMMENDATION
The following are the broken stated recommendation of the study:-
- The government should create academic and counseling units in schools with adequate found, while students from broken homes should be given proper guidance and counseling concerning their psychological needs and social problems towards their studies for appropriate discipline.
- More learning materials should be provided to the students from broken homes by their parents and guidance for effective learning
- Proper monitoring, security and discipline should be given to the students by their guidance and single parents.
- Government should found or create sufficient orphanage homes and finance them so that they will take care of broken homes.
- Religious scholars should offer to parents on dangers of broken homes and their effect on academic performance.
- Principal and teachers should monitor the affairs of students from broken homes and counsel them from time to time in their schools.
SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER STUDIES
More studies should be taken on the influence of broken homes on student’s academic achievements.
On the other parts of the country, since this research was only limited on Iguelahia community Area.
A study to be undertaken on the comparative analysis of broken homes students and normal students and their academic performance
REFERENCES
- Altbach. P.G. (1979), Comparative Higher Education: Research Trends and Bibliography, London : Mansell.
- Aremu .S. and Oluwole B. (2000), The Development and validation and Academic Performance. 5 factor inventory. An unpublished Manuscript Department of Guidance and Counselling. Ibadan:University of Ibadan
- Aston,N.and Mclanahan,.S.S.(1991)“Family Structure, parental practices and high school Awake Completion”, American Sociological Review, Vol.56, No.3 pp 318-319 Awake July, [2006], Magazine.
- Ballantine, J.H. and Hammck, F.M (2009), The Sociology of Education: A systematic Analysis. 6th ed. London: Pearson
- Bhatnagar, K.S. (1952), Causes of Scholastic Failure among Intelligent Children. The Indian Journal of Educational Research. 4, 1, 78 – 79.
- Campbell, W.J. (1970), Schools in Context: The Effects of Environment on Learning, London: John Wiley and Sons.
- CSO, (2000), Demographic Survey. Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Lusaka. CSO, (2007). Demographic Survey. Ministry of Finance and National Planning. Lusaka.
- Douglas, J.W.B (1964), The Home and the School: Study of Ability and Attainment in Primary Schools. London: Mac Gibbon and Kee Ltd.
- Dowd, J (1977), A Meta Analysis of the Impact of Broken Homes. London: Prentice-Hall. Erickson, M.J. (1965), Mentally Retarded Child in the Classroom, New York: Mac Millan. Evans, H.G. (1962), An Examination of the Causes of Premature and Early Leaving in Selected Schools of South Wales. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 32 – 33, 205-206.
- FatherlessHomesBreedViolence”FatheringMagazineNewshttp/www/fathermag.com/news/2778-stats.shtmel.
- Fraser, E. (1968), Home Environment and the School, London: University of London Press Ltd. Galloway, D. (1982). “Persistent Absentees and their families” British Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol. 2, No. 5 pp 317-330
- Galloway, D. (1985). Schools and Persistent Absentees, Oxford: Pergamon Press. Goodwin, B (2000), Raising the Achievement of Low Performing Students: Mid continent
- Research for Education and Learning, Colorado: Harvard University Press Gordon, B.H. (1978), The Psychology of Learning and Motivation: Advances in Research and.
- Theory, California: StanfordUniversity
- Gosh B.N. (2003) Scientific Method and Social Research, New Delhi: Serling Publisher Private Ltd.