CHAPTER ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION:
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Child
abuse is the non-accidental commission of any act by which a parent or
caretaker upon a child under age eighteen (18) which causes or creates a substantial
risk of physical or Emotional injury or constitute a sexual offence under the
law of common wealth or any sexual contact between a parent/caretaker and a
child under eighteen years.
Child abuse is a great problem that
has negative impact in our society and also especially in academic performance
of student in school and also it has great concern in our society like other
social problem; child abuse has been attracting the attention of sociologist,
philosopher, political scientist, psychologist, criminologist, counselors in
school, teacher and social workers.
School counselors and teachers in
particular have been working relentlessly to provide solution to the problem of
child abuse, several educationist had tried their possible best to reduce this
act in our society because this problem had played a negative impact in our
social Economic political and academic lives of child abuser in both the rural
and urban areas.
Child abuse has far reaching affects
on the progress and aspiration of both the children and youth of all lend it
determine how far student can benefit from school and how their life can be in
great future, better homes, good government and community at large because any
child that had been maltreated at the tender age can leads to maltreated adult
which can affect the society at large.
Child abuse can lead to forms of
abuse like physical abuse e.g lost of eye, hearing impairment, bruise,
fracture, lacerations, dislocation of joint or life injury, and also leads to
emotional abuse which can leads to all these Isolating, Terrorizing, Ignoring,
Corruption. Not only these but also it can leads to sexual abuse that can
affect the student live by turning their life to another thing that is socially
negative like prostitution, Raping,
Unwanted pregnancy.
The other crucial thing child abuse
can leads to is neglect and this word neglect means persistence failure to meet
a child basic needs which result in serious impairment of the child health and
development, neglect may involve the child health and development.
Child abuse can exist when there is
failure to provide adequate food, clothing or shelter and the following:-
·
Protect from physical and emotional harm or
danger.
·
Meet or
respond to basic emotional needs.
·
Ensure adequate supervision
·
Ensure accesses to appropriate medical care or
treatment.
·
Ensure his/her opportunity for intellectual;
stimulation are meet.
·
Ensure that his/her educational needs are meet.
All of these child abuse action can affect children in negative way and
it will also add problem to their academic performance. This act start at the
tender age where the child did not known anything and when they have just
started their live’s journey.
Success within the academic environment is an important value instilled
during childhood. Children who are able to gain academic success within their
school years are more likely to have an overall sense of well-being throughout
child of and into adulthood (CDC 2011). Although it may be ideal for all children
to perform well within the school environment, there are many factors that can
hinder a child’s potential for academic success. Particularly in negative
health outcomes related to child maltreatment or abuse, such as Neglect, sexual
abuse, physical abuse and emotional abuse are strong indicators of poor
academic performance, children who are maltreated are less alternative and
engaged in school have lower test.
This trend is posing huge problems to children and teachers in the field
of education. However, it could be agreed that the teacher are the immediate
people that are close to the children when it comes to academic attainment.
This study will therefore examine the effect of child abuse on academic
performance of students in Odeda local government area of Ogun State.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The researcher intends to examine
the effect of child abuse on academic performance of secondary school student
in Odeda Local Government area of Ogun State.
Also to access ways by which child
abuse affects their academic performance, the major causes of child abuse and
to suggest ways of abolishing in child abuse in Odeda Local Government Area of
Ogun State.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTION
1.
Does child abuse affect emotional development of student
significantly?
2.
Does child abuse have any significant impact on
academic performance of students?
3.
Does child abuse have any significant effect on
physical development of student?
4.
Does child abuse affect social development of student
significantly?
1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this research work is
to investigate the effect of child abuse on academic performance of student in
Odeda Local Government area of Ogun State.
The researcher will be entrusted in
finding out the following facts.
1.
To determine through the opinion of selected school
teachers in Odeda Local government area of Ogun state on the effect of child
abuse on academic performance of students.
2.
To determine how much child abuse had contributed to
physical development of child.
3.
To determine how much child abuse had contributed to
the psychological development of child.
4.
To vividly investigate the contribution of child abuse
on Emotional development of child.
5.
To investigate and make use of recommendation to
parent/care giver to that education in Odeda Local Government may progress.
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study is to examine the effect
of child abuse on academic performance of secondary school students in Odeda
Local Government Area of Ogun State.
1.6 SIGNIFICANT
OF THE STUDY
It envisage that the result of this
problems will help in identifying problems confronting child who had been
abused in school system in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The result of this study will go a long
way in assisting the sociologist, criminologist, social workers, Administration
and manager of education especially counselor in schools, parents and teachers,
in solving in various problems confronting children who had been abused in
various ways in our society and school setting.
Finally the study will further
enhance the activities of parents and teachers in abolishing the issue of child
abuse in our and society at large since both the parent and teacher has great
impact to play in this issue.
1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This project is limited to secondary
schools in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State. During the study period
the researcher considered time as one of the set back of the work.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
1.
Effect: A
phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon.
2.
Child: A Young
human being who is yet an adult
3.
Abuse: A Rude
expression intended to offend or hurt or is to take or use something in a way
that is wrong or harmful or an unfair cruel or violent treatment of somebody.
4.
Academic:
Excessively concerned with intellectual matter and lacking experience of
parental affairs. It is also belonging or relating to a place of learning
especially a college, University
5.
Performance:
It is the accomplishment of a given task measured against accuracy,
completeness, cost and speed
6.
Student: A
learner who enroll in an educational institution or a person who is studying in
a school.
7.
Teacher: A
person whose occupation is teaching, person who impact knowledge to his students
or students.
8.
Odeda: One of
the Local Government in Ogun State.