CHAPTER ONE
INRODUCTION
1.0 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Access
to education is one of the important basic human rights in all societies. In
Nigeria, the provision of Education has been one of the most critical issues of
Government social policy especially since after independence in (1960). Poverty
has however remained a stumbling block for most people to attain this basic
right.
Poverty
is a universal social problem that cuts across nations, race, locations,
culture and religion. It has been in existence from the time of the
establishment of the human race on planet Earth.
Poverty
stricken members of the human race have always struggled in a number of ways to
attain decent living standard. Poverty presents a number of challenges to its
victims such as access to proper health facilities, education, nutrition,
employment and the realization of personal aspirations.
Of
particular concern to this study are challenges that poverty stricken students
face in their quest for education. The plight of poverty stricken students is
exasperated by stringent school policies that pertain to the payment of fees,
attitudes by teachers and fellow students, shortage of foods, school wears and
stationery. An unsupportive home environment further complicates the poverty
stricken students drive to acquire decent education.
Higher
needs such as esteem needs like education can become dominant only when lower
needs such as higher and thirst have been gratified.
According
to Maslow (2012), a hungry child cannot pay attention in classes since this or
her images will be dominated by food. This brings to light hinderances poor
children experiences as they pursue their education. The current economic
crisis where the price of basic goods are very high adds more suffering to the
already poverty stricken students (Mabiza et al 22010).
Presently,
the government is carrying out primary schools supplementary feeding
programmes, the programme benefits children between the ages of three to thirteen
years who belong to either a school or pre-school that is attached to a primary
school. Secondary school students do not benefit from this programme despite
their family socio- economic background and status.
However,
the researcher feels that secondary students need more food than their primary
counterparts since they belong to the adolescence stag. During adolescence,
boys and girls experiences rapid physical changes that prepare the body for reproduction.
It is during this stage that body requires proper diet that will facilitate
maximum physical, sexual and mental development. Malnutrition as a result of
poor diet may leads to ill health which may lead to absenteeism at school. The government of Nigeria has made an
effort to help the economically disadvantaged access to education through the
universal basic education (U.B.E). However this program meets parts of the
educational expenses for the poverty stricken students leaving the balance as a
responsibility of the family. The timeous payment of school fees, provision of
stationery and presentation in complete school uniform are heavy requirements
for poverty stricken student’s to meet.
School
authorities set deadlines for payments of school fees and levies, failure to
meet these deadline warrants suspension from attending lessons. Poverty
stricken student’s fall victim to these harsh and to some extent insensitive regulations.
The right to education is every Nigerian’s right as enshrined in the bill of
rights in the constitution of the country. Not all citizens acquire education
since many poor children end up dropping out of school due to financial
constrains. It is in the light of this that researcher seeks to investigate the
effect of poverty on academic performances of secondary school students in Nigeria.
1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The issue of poverty
has been on rampage in the society. The
alarming rate at which it is happening is a cause of great concern. The
consequences of this problem are very multifarious. The intention of this
project is to find out about the problem off the effect of poverty on the academic
performance of students in secondary schools in Nigeria (A case study of
Abeokuta South Local Government) and its effects on the society.
1.2 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The objective of the
study is to highlight the effect of poverty on academics performance of
students in public secondary schools and in the Nigeria society and give some
reasonable recommendation on how to put an end or minimize the incessant problem
and it effects.
1.3 SCOPE
OF THE STUDY
The
scope is limited to stakeholders in the secondary education with the students
in Ogun State. In order to come out with a vivid result. Abeokuta South Local Government is the case
study of the research. During the course of the study samples were taken in the
area
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION
These are the
investigations the researcher intends to carry out.
1. What
are the causes of poverty?
2. What
are the effects of poverty in the society?
3. What
are the effects of poverty on academic performance of student’s?
4. What
are the remedies of poverty?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The importance of this
study is the creation of awareness to the society regarding the finding and
solution to the problem of poverty on academic performance of secondary school
student’s inn Abeokuta South Local Government of Ogun State.
It is also significant
in the sense that it supplements the effort being made by the government or the
society to curb the menace of the problem of poverty on academic performance of
public secondary school student’s and in Nigeria society.
1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS
(i)
Effect
– Something brought about by a cause or agent. The power to produce on outcome
or achieve a result.
(ii)
Poverty
– A state or condition in which a person or community lacks the financial
resources and essentials to enjoy a minimum standard of life and well-being
that considered acceptable in society.
(iii)
Student
– One who is enrolled or attends classes at a school, college or university.
(iv)
Performance
– The action or process of carrying out or accomplishing an action, task or
function.
(v)
Academic–
Relating to education and scholarship not of practical relevance, only. A
teacher or scholar in a college or institute of higher education.
(vi)
Secondary
School– Is a school which provides secondary, typically
between the ages of 11- 16.