ABSTRACT
The study centered on the
effect of gender and socio-economic status on academic performance. Hundred
students (43 males and 52 females) from Idemili-South Local Government Area
were used in the study. The ages of the participants ranged from 12 to 24 years
with a mean age of 18.32 and standard deviation of 3.76. A 30 item questionnaire
on academic performance and socio-economic status was used in the study.
Independent T. Test and One Way Analysis of Variance were used to test the two
hypotheses in the study. The findings indicated that the first hypothesis which
stated that there will be no significant difference between males and females
on academic performance was rejected t (98) = 2.8, P > .05. Also the second
hypothesis which stated that there will be no significant difference among
students of high, middle and low socio-economic status on academic performance
was not confirmed at F (2, 97) = 0.84, P > .05. Based on the findings,
recommendations were made.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The value of education cannot
be overemphasized in the life of every individual. This is because it is a
process by which the mind develops through learning. Etymologically, the term
education is derived from the Latin word “educare” meaning “to lead out”; that
is, leading out of darkness into light. Ukeje (1973) opined that the process of
education occurs whenever any influence produces a change in the physical and
mental behaviour of an individual.
These definitions emphasize the
dynamic nature of education in its role to bring refinement in the totality of
ones behaviour. Hence, it is vital in the developmental process of every
individual in the society.
Education is the best legacy a
nation can give to her citizens especially the youths. This is because the
development of any nation or community depends largely on the quality of
education of such a nation. The basis for any true development must commence
with the development of human resources. Hence, formal education remains the
vehicle for socio-economic development and social mobilization in any society.
It is generally assumed that
the quality of family’s socio-economic development has an important association
with children's academic motivation and achievement, and
with young adults' eventual educational and occupational attainments. Kellaghan
(1993) claims, for example, that the family environment is the most powerful
influence in determining students' school achievement, academic motivation, and
the number of years of schooling they will receive. Hence, there is no
gainsaying the fact that the family’s socio-economic status is one of the main
determinants of the academic performance of a student.
In Wikipedia encyclopedia,
sociologists defined socio-economic status, (sometimes shortened to SES), as a
sociological classification indicating the close relationship between someone’s
relative wealth and that person’s social status. Wikipedia encyclopedia also
defined social status as the honor or prestige attached to one's position in
society (one's social position). The stratification system, which is the system
of distributing rewards to the members of society, determines social status.
Wikipedia encyclopedia further noted that social status, (that is, the position
or rank of a person or group within the stratification system), can be
determined in two ways. One can earn their social status by their own
achievements (e.g. through education, occupation etc), this is known as
achieved status; one can be placed in the stratification system by their
inherited position, this is called ascribed status. In modern societies,
occupation is usually thought of as the main determinant of status, but
other memberships or affiliations (such as ethnic group, religion, gender,
voluntary associations, hobby) can have an influence.
The National Center for
Educational Statistics (2008) defined socio-economic status as an economic and
sociological combined total measure of a person's work experience and of an
individual's or family’s economic and social position relative to others, based
on income, education, and occupation. When analyzing a family’s SES, the
household income earners', education and occupation are examined. Demarest,
Reisner, Anderson, Humphrey, Farquhar, and Stein (1993) similarly noted that a
family's socio-economic status is based on family income, parental education
level, parental occupation, and social status in the community (such as
contacts within the community, group associations, and the community's
perception of the family).
According to Wikipedia
encyclopedia, socio-economic status is typically broken into three categories,
namely; high socio-economic status, middle socio-economic status, and low
socio-economic status to describe the three areas a family or an individual may
fall into. Demarest, Reisner, Anderson, Humphrey, Farquhar, and Stein (1993)
opined that families with high socio-economic status
often have more success in preparing their young children for school because
they typically have access to a wide range of resources to promote and support
young children's development. They are able to provide their young children
with high-quality child care, books, and toys to encourage children in various
learning activities at home. In addition, families with high socio-economic
status often seek out information to help them better prepare their young
children for school. On the other hand, families with low socio-economic status
often lack the financial, social, and educational supports that characterize
families with high socioeconomic status. Poor families also may have inadequate
or limited access to community resources that promote and support children's
development and school readiness. Families with middle socio-economic status
may be privileged to have some financial backing that will enable them provide
better education for their children, though it may not be quite sufficient.
Wikipedia encyclopedia stated
that when placing a family or individual into one of these categories, any or
all of the three variables income, education, and occupation must be assessed.
Income refers to wages, salaries, profits, rents, and any flow of earnings
received. Income can also come in the form of workers compensation, social
security, pensions, interests or dividends, royalties, trusts, or other
governmental, public, or family financial assistance.
Education also plays a role in income. Median earnings increase with each level
of education. The highest degrees, professional and doctoral degrees for
instance, make the highest weekly earnings while those without a high school
diploma are financially penalized. Higher levels of education are associated
with better economic and psychological outcomes (i.e. more income, more
control, and greater social support and networking). Occupational prestige as
one component of socio-economic status encompasses both income and educational
attainment. Occupational status reflects the educational attainment required to
obtain the job and income levels that vary with different jobs and within ranks
of occupations.
Following the above discussion,
we can conclude that families with low socio-economic status often lack the
financial, social, and educational supports that characterize families with
high socio-economic status. The effect this has on academic performance of
secondary students is what we have to find out in this work.
STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
Shittu, (2004) observed that where
a child suffers parental and material deprivation and care due to divorce or
death, or absconding of one of the parents, the child's
schooling may be affected, for the remaining parent may not be financially
buoyant to pay school fee, purchase books, uniforms etc, thus the child’s
performances in school may be adversely affected. Similarly, good parenting
supported by strong economic home background could enhance strong academic
performance of the child. This further predicts academic performance of the
child.
Poverty and low socio-economic
status coupled with high rate of paternal and maternal deprivations, which was
necessitated by poor socio-economic situation, has thrown many farmers and old
rural dwellers into untold financial problems such as poverty, lack of money to
purchase necessary textbooks and working materials for their children. Many
rural and suburban dwellers can no longer pay the school fees of their wards.
These ugly situations have necessitated young school students to dropout of
school to engage in subsistence farming and become housemaids or engage in
other menial jobs to support their academic pursuit. Hence, many students have
since taken schooling as a secondary assignment and school attendance on rotational
basis. The resultant problem posed by this, is poor academic performance in
school examination like National Examination Council (NECO) and West African
Examination Council (WAEC). This trend is posing huge problems to parents,
stakeholders in education, governments and the nation at large. This
work thus examines the effect of socio-economic status in the poor academic
performance of secondary school students in Idemili-South Local government Area
of Anambra State.
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
Answer
to the following research question will be provided by the study:
i.
Will there be any significant
difference between males and females on academic performance?
ii.
Will there be any significant
difference between students of high, middle and low socio-economic status on
academic performance?
PURPOSE
OF THE STUDY
The
following is the objective of the research:
i.
To determine the effect of gender on
academic performance.
ii.
To find out the effect of
socio-economic status on the academic performance of students.
This study will be of great
importance in finding out whether gender or socio-economic status of parents
determine the educational performance or academic achievement of secondary
school students. This information is necessary, for if low socio-economic
status of parents affects the academic performance of students, then government
funding will be called for so as to support these indigent families acquire
basic education.
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Item Type: Project Material | Size: 54 pages | Chapters: 1-5
Format: MS Word | Delivery: Within 30Mins.
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