THE IMPACT OF SINGLE-PARENTING ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENTS IN SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS
ABSTRACT
The descriptive survey research was adopted in this study. It is an attempt to investigate the impact of single-parenting on academic performance of students in selected secondary schools in Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State. A sample of 200 randomly selected students were used. Another sample of 50 randomly selected parents and teachers were also used. A 4 point Likert scale type questionnaire containing 20 items and 20 questions on social studies was administered to the students. The content of the instrument were face validated by my supervisor and other experts in the department. While the reliability was ascertained at 0.5 significant level.
Two null hypotheses were postulated and tested using the independent t-test. The first and second hypotheses were analysed at 0.05 level of significance. The result from this study showed that single-parenting have a negative impact on academic performance of students.
An offspring from a broken home should have regular contact with both parents in order to avoid having negative feelings towards them. Teachers and caregivers should be encouraged to act as role models for children in terms of sharing affection, meaningful and healthy relationship and discipline.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1Â Â Â Â Background to the study
Single-parent families can be defined as families where a parent lives with dependent children, either alone or in a large household, without a Spouse or partner Popenoe (1997). According to Adams (1998), there was rapid increase in the number of single-parent families in the latter half of the twentieth century. This change has been used by some to argue, that there is breakdown of the family values (defined as a married couple residing with their dependent offspring) with negative effects on children, families and the larger society in general. Singh (1999), and Talib (2000), suggest that single-parent families have been present in all societies over time and should not be viewed as deviant or problematic rather, as an alternative family form. Regardless of how family diversity is viewed, the increase in and prevalence of families headed by one parent (father only or mother only) has a major influence on the social, economic moral and political context of family life.
The expression “single-parenting” actually connotes a one-parent household Cox and Martins (2001). The expression single-parenting, was first formulated in 1970s. There is a general assumption that having one parent only in a household must be deficient and therefore, by definition, bad.
