Project Topic - THE EFFECT OF ACADEMIC BACKGROUND OF PARENTS ON ACADEMIC

Project Topic – THE EFFECT OF ACADEMIC BACKGROUND OF PARENTS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF PUPILS

Click here to Get this Complete Project Chapter 1-5

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study.

Over the years, it has been observed that pupils who are exposed to the same lessons by the same teachers perform differently when they are evaluated. While some pupils achieve well above average, a majority of them fall below average achievement. This is usually noticed or seen in pupil’s terminal examination. According to Teecee (2000;56) “the board of education or ministry of education worldwide suspected teaching methodology and classroom teachers as being the cause of the variation and have sought for solution to the problem”, yet the problems seems to persist. This shows that outside the school environment/classroom environment, pupils are faced with other factors that effect their educational achievement.

There is also a clear distinction between gifted and the non-gifted children, but even at that, there are factors that affect the academic performance of both the gifted and non-gifted children which cannot be traced to the classroom environment. Nwosu (2001) opined that “No nation can rise above the level of education provided for its citizen”. This goes a long way to suggest that in Nigeria where there is instability both in the political and economic sectors even the social sphere of the country, tends to hamper education practices, hence many uncontrolled variables are responsible for variation in educational achievement of primary school pupils. Some of the factors identified are pupils’ attitudes, poor family structure, poor habit on the part of pupils, variation in intellectual abilities, parent’s educational level, income and occupation as well as the age of the mother at the birth of the child (Sogbetan, 9991, Hassan, 1993, Brooks-gum and chase-Lansdale, 2001, Maple and stage, 2003).

There is evidence that parent academic background will affect pupils’ academic achievement. The above statement was justified by Ezewu (2001) who stated that parents’ academic attainment affects the schooling of the children either positively or negatively. He further stated that the higher the parents level of education, the more likely it will motivate their children to learn, thereby preparing them for highly regarded vocations.

The effect of parents’ level of education in the society is very pervasive. A child from a low academic background has less chances of succeeding at school and hence professionally, than a child from high academic background (Emeka, 2005). He further stated that a child from well educated home scores higher than a less privileged child on the intellectual curiosity test which positively correlates with grades. Oladeji (2007) affirmed that parents with high literacy level are always conscious and knew when to reduce the house chores of their children so as to enhance their performance in school. Moreover, parents’ level of education determines the socio-economic status which the home could be classified. Parents with higher level of education have higher paid occupations that place them in the upper class, thereby giving them opportunity to invest in children’s education. Such parents ensure facilitating and conducive environment that enhance performance of their children.

Children with rich parents as well as children with poor parents have certain physical and psychological needs which when met; contribute positively to their academic performance and achievement, (Avwata, Onyama and Omorka, 2001). These needs include good, a conducive reading atmosphere, a play ground, provision of books and other materials and attendance at the best schools available. All these help to promote effective learning and good performance in schools.

Parents who did not go to school or whose academic level is low are unable to share with their children their experience about how to study for exams, meet requirements or how to select courses. In addition, children from illiterate parents’ academic background may have poor self esteem when they find themselves amidst children of high parents’ academic background whose parents are professors, doctors, lawyers etc. The above background forms the focus of this study.

1.2 Statement of the Problem.

There have been several studies carried out regarding the effect of parent academic background on pupil’s academic achievement. Some of these studies have conflicting results as to the relationship existing between pupils’ academic performances and their parents’ academic background. Keeves and Saha (2002) opined that in most countries of the world, educational achievements are related to the social background of the pupils. This includes the gender of the family (and hence the pupils) and the ethnicity and language characteristics of the pupils.

Studies carried out by Mok and Flynn (2008) to examine the achievement of pupils in catholic school in New South Wales showed that parents’ level of education made a significant contribution to achievement Axtell and Bowers (2002) opined that academic background of parents does not have any effect on academic performance of pupils.

On this premise therefore, it becomes imperative that more conclusive investigation be carried out on the academic background of parents with regards to its effect on the academic achievement of primary school pupils.

1.3 Purpose of the study

The purpose of this study is to critically ascertain the effect of academic background of parents on academic performance of pupils in Mainland Local Education District of Lagos state. The study specifically sought to find out whether.

The level of academic achievement of primary school pupils differ based on their parents’ academic background.
The level of parents’ academic background effects the academic performance of their children in Mainland Local Education District of Lagos State.
The Level of academic achievement of primary school pupils differ based on their parents’ occupation.

1.4 Research Questions

To guide the study, three research questions were posed and answered.

How does the performance of pupils from literate homes in Mathematics differ from that of their counterparts from non literate homes?
How does the performance of pupils from literate homes in English language differ from that of their counterparts from non literate homes?
How does the performance of pupils from parents whose occupation are professional differ from that of their counterparts from parents whose occupations are not professional?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

To guide the study, two hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance.

HO₁: The level of pupils’ academic performance in mathematics is independent of their parents’ academic background.

HO₂: the level of pupils’ academic performance in English language in independent of their parents’ academic background.

1.6 Scope of the study

The scope of this study is on the effect of academic background of parents on academic performance of pupils in Mainland Local Education District of Lagos state.

1.7 Significance of the Study

It is expected that the findings of this study will be of immense help to the teacher, government, policy makers, parents, pupils and future researchers. To the teachers, the findings of this study will serve as a guide that would enable them understand their pupils and know the approach or method to adopt in teaching so as to bridge the gap of variation in academic achievement of pupil.

Furthermore, the findings of this study will be of great benefit to the government, curriculum planners and policy makers in making policies in education and planning education strategies for Nigeria pupils and society at large, since it has valid suggestions on the way forward toward the realization of an egalitarian society and land full of bright opportunities for all citizens as stated in the national policy on education (FRN, 2004).

More so the findings of the study will be useful to both the pupils, parents and society at large as it will highlight the effect of parents’ educational background on the pupil’s life chances and suggest ways of eliminating this social bias and enhance the pupils’ academic performance and achievement. Finally, the outcome of the study will be useful to future researchers who will carry out further studies on this problem as the work will be reference material for them.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Home: This could be seen as a place where one lives especially with one’s family.

Family: This is a group of people who are related to each other, especially father, mother and children.

Background: The traits of one’s family it can also be seen as the family way of life.

Performance: To carry out something better improve in ones study.

Educational Background: Educational background can include both your formal education and any informal or continuing education you have received throughout your lifetime.

Get the Complete Project

This is a premium project material and the complete research project plus questionnaires and references can be gotten at an affordable rate of N3,000 for Nigerian clients and $8 for International clients.

Click here to Get this Complete Project Chapter 1-5

You can also check other Research Project here:

Education

Need a Project Writer for a Different Topic

Project Topic – THE EFFECT OF ACADEMIC BACKGROUND OF PARENTS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF PUPILS

Project Topic – THE EFFECT OF ACADEMIC BACKGROUND OF PARENTS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF PUPILS

Project Topic – THE EFFECT OF ACADEMIC BACKGROUND OF PARENTS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF PUPILS

Related Posts