ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of family structure on the academic performance of students in tertiary institutions a case study of College of Education, Ekiadolor-Benin in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. during the course of this research the researcher found out that the ability to perform well has a great relationship with the structure of the family in which a child is brought up the researcher recommended that parents should try as much as possible to give their children eighty percent (80%) of their time and care in order for the students not to be emotionally imbalanced. More emphasis was laid down on the different types of family structure, if it is either a single parent or grandparent or nuclear family or step parents. One hundred students were used in College of Education, Ekiadolor. Relevant data was collected through the use of questionnaire; they were analysed using frequency distribution and percentage as statistical tools.
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
Background of the study
Statement of problem
Research questions
Research hypothesis
Purpose of the study
Significance of the study
The scope of study
Limitation
Definition of terms
CHAPTER TWO
Review of related literature
CHAPTER THREE
Methodology
Research design
Population and sample
Sampling techniques
Instrument for data collection
Validation of data
Reliability of the instrument
Method of data collection
Data analysis techniques
CHAPTER FOUR
Data presentation, analysis and interpretation
CHAPTER FIVE
Summary, conclusion and recommendation
Summary
Conclusion
Recommendation and suggestion for further research
BIBLIOGRAPHY
QUESTIONNAIRE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Academic attainment is an important parameter in measuring success in students. Observations and reports have shown that success or high academic achievement has become a Herculean task to accomplish by students in recent times. Poor academic performance was recorded both at the secondary school and tertiary levels of education in Nigeria. The performance of students at all levels in educational institutions in Nigeria has attracted much criticisms from all and sundry and from time immemorial. The decline in academic performance of students in Nigeria has been observed by Soyinka (1999), when he observed that education system in Nigeria need restructuring. He went further to say that academic standard had fallen drastically and the quality of graduates being produced by the nations’ schools is questionable and subject to re-examination.
Poor academic performance of students has been of great concern to educationists, guidance and counsellor in particular. Despite all guidance programmes and counselling strategies mounted in schools to improve the students’ academic performance were recorded yearly. It becomes necessary to find out the causes of such poor performance in Nigeria secondary institutions. Though these poor performances have been attributed to a lot of industries such as students’ factors, like student’s attitude to school, approach to learning and academic self concept. Apart from students’ factors, school factors and parent’s factors, there are other indicators that cause poor performance. on the part of the parents, there are certain factors which influence children’s success, such as parents’ social class, parents’ education as well as parental input and other factors, the family size and birth order may contribute positively or negatively to students’ academic performance.
Family structure in this context refers to the total number of children in the child’s family in addition to the child himself, while the birth order refers to the child’s position in the birth order. However, family type that a child comes from either monogamous or polygamous family usually have impact on the child’s academic performance. It is important to note that either of the family type (monogamous or polygamous) family dictates the structure of the family. Over the last two decades a stream of research consistently highlights the complexities and powerful influences that the home environment have on the academic achievement of students. Bassler, et al (1992) emphasized in their research on family structure that it was an important factor in student achievement. They stressed that when parents and teachers work together, student’s achievement is positively affected. Children living with both parents tend to perform socially and academically.
Achenmbach, et al (2002) the findings were believed to be accredited to factors commonly found in two parents homes, such as sense of self identity, family socio-economic status and consistency within the home. In an earlier study Carlson and Corwran (2001) found that two parents home were beginning to decline at a significant rate. This study also found an overwhelming decline in the academic achievement of students from both parents’ homes to single parents home. It is imperative to note that the study found a significant decline in the academic achievement of students living in both the one parents and two parents’ homes. The results were derived from the influence of family structure on a child academic performance. Macoby and Martin (1983) found that when parents are involved in their children education, it encouraged learning and cultural awareness regardless of the family structure.