Impact Of Single Parenting On Pupils Academic Performance In Social Studies In Ndokwa East Local Government Area Of Delta State

ABSTRACT

The study examined the impact of single parenting on pupils academic performance in social studies in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State. Three research questions guided the study. The population of the study comprised of all the one thousand and fifty (1050) primary three and five teachers in  the fifty-eight (58) primary schools in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State while out of the fifty-eight (58) primary schools in Ndokwa East Local Government, 10 schools were randomly selected. In each school, ten teachers were selected, making a total of one hundred (100) respondents. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire, which was structured by the researcher and validated by two lecturers in the department of Primary Education in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba. One hundred copies of the questionnaire items were administered to one hundred (100) teachers in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State by the researcher with the help of one research assistance and 88 copies of the instrument were retrieved and analyzed using mean statistics. The findings from the study revealed that there are causes of single parenting, single parenting has a negative impact on pupils class participation in social studies and there are solutions to the negative influence of single parenting on pupils academic performance in social studies in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that parents should be encouraged by the school authorities during P. T. A. meetings to avoid the causes of single parenting; as this leads to poor performance among school children and teachers should ensure that equal care and love is shown to children of single parents and ensure that other pupils do not talk ill of the children of single parents so that they can feel loved which will help to enhance their performance in social studies. 

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

Family is the first agent of socialization. This implies that parents are the first point of contact of children. Their learning starts from the home in which they learn different things from both parents. So, when both parents are present, it implies that the child would derive most care and attention. However, when one of the parent is absent in a child’s life, a gap is created as the child would lose the support that would have emanated from that parent; that single parenting that result from divorce, separation of various kinds, having children out of wedlock or death of one spouse which leaves the roles in the hands of a single parent. When the role that ought to be played by two persons is left in the hands of one person, there would be difficulty in playing the role effectively. This tend to affect the child socially, morally and psychologically. Two heads, they say is better than one. So, it is difficult for mother to effectively play the role of the father in addition to her own. There are certain things that a child learns from the father and certain things from the mother because they serve as role model to the child.

According to Salami (2015), single-parenthood is when one out of two people who is responsible for the nurturing and child rearing is not available, and the work meant for two people, is now been carried out by one person. He further added that single parenthood is when the mother or father looks after children on their own, without the other partner. Single-parenting is a situation in which one of the two individuals involved in the conception of the child is being responsible for the upbringing of the child (Whitting, 2016). Single-parenthood arises when either the male or the female decides to produce and rear a child or children outside wedlock. According to Nwachukwu (2017), children from single parent homes are more hostile, hyperactive and aggressive in nature. Many of the problems that single parents have are similar as those for two parent’s family, but these problems seem more difficult to bear or manage when the home is being tutored by only one person.

The relationship between man and the environment on which he lives is studied in social studies. This means that social studies as a subject is concerned with man’s way of life. It examines the way man lives and interacts with his social and physical environment. Social Studies is not only a way of life, it studies how man influenced by his physical, social, political, economic, psychological and cultural environment. Uzoagulu (2015) observes that social studies is one of the social sciences disciplines which studies man as he interacts with his fellow men and with his environment. The content of social studies, therefore, is man and his actions. Social studies is the one area of study which integrates, that is, which relates to various social sciences and it also aims at analyzing the view of man and his world. Social Studies Education touches on all aspects of societal development; be it political, economic, social, cultural, technological or educational. In Nigerian context, the goals of Social Studies curriculum design is aimed at building a sound and balanced mind as a foundation for functional social education directed towards the development of intelligent, responsible and self-directing citizen. Integrating and dispensing social knowledge through the instrumentality of Social Studies curriculum design in Nigerian schools is directed towards the following objectives:  Self-confidence and initiatives; Power of imagination and resourcefulness; Desire for knowledge and continued learning; Sense of compassion for the less fortunate; Sense of respect for and tolerance of the opinion of others; Social values and attitudes such as: cooperation; participation; interdependence; open-mindedness; honesty; integrity; trustworthiness; diligence and obedience and a spirit of national consciousness and patriotism (Garb, Singh, Yusuf and Saad, 2012)

Single parenting has a very huge impact on pupils’ academic performance in social studies. According to Walker (2015), pupils who have both parents fully involved in their education tend to do better academically compared to those who depend on single parents for academic guidance and motivation. A child who always sees himself or herself being raised by just one parent instead of two may be more relaxed and somehow become unserious because of the pampering received from a single parent. Hence the need to ascertain the impact of single parenting on pupils’ academic performance in social studies.

Statement of Problem

          Jointly, parents have important roles to play in ensuring that their children acquire appropriate and balanced social, psychological, moral and academic development. Each of the parents has indispensable and unique responsibility for the psychological, educational and career development of their children. However, the advent and subsequent societal acceptance of single parenthood has distorted these complementary roles. This has in turn impacted adversely on the total upbringing of the children including their psycho well-being and educational performance.

In Nigeria, the existence of single parents which was as a result of broken home was unknown and where they existed, they were ignored as exceptional cases. However, nowadays, they are the fast-growing family patterns as more children from single parent homes can easily be seen.

Pupils’ poor performance in social studies over the years has being a matter of concern to the general public. Many attributed it to the high rate of single parenting in the local government (Salami, 2015). Children raised by single parents tend to perform poorly in academic activities, especially in subject like social studies.  It is against this backdrop that this study seeks to examine the Impact of Single Parenting on Pupils’ Academic Performance in Social Studies in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State.

Purpose of the Study

This study was carried out to examine the Impact of Single Parenting on Pupils’ Academic Performance in Social Studies in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State. Specifically, the study is aimed to:

1. examine causes of single parenting in Ndokwa East Local government area of Delta State.
2. assess impact of single parenting on pupils’ class participation in social studies in primary schools in Ndokwa East.

• Determine the solution to negative influence of single parenting on pupils’ academic performance in social studies in Ndokwa East.

Research Questions

To effectively carry out the study, the following questions were raised:

1. What are the causes of single parenting in Ndokwa East Local government area of Delta State?
2. What is the impact of single parenting on pupils’ class participation in social studies in primary schools in Ndokwa East?

• What are the solutions to negative influence of single parenting on pupils’ academic performance in social studies in Ndokwa East?

Significance of the Study

The study would be of immense benefit to the pupils, parents, teachers, government, field of primary education and researchers as a whole.

The study would go a long way in helping the pupils to understand the way single parenting affect their academic performance in social studies and how they could help themselves in terms of seriousness with their academic activities.

It would also help the teachers to understand the impact of single parenting on pupils’ academic performance at the primary school level so as to work in cooperation with the parents to improve pupils’ academic performance.

The study would help to call the attention of the government to the negative impact of single parenting on pupils’ academic performance. This would enable them organize awareness campaign aimed at sensitizing the single parents on the ways to be more involved in their children’s academic activities for better academic performance. Through the awareness campaign, they would also enlighten the general public on the need for both parents to live together till death for their children to experience proper upbringing. This would help to reduce the rate of divorce in the society.

Finally, the study could add to the literature in the field of primary education which could serve as a reference material to researchers who could carry out a similar study.

Scope/delimitation of the Study

This study investigated the impact of single parenting on pupils’ academic performance in social studies in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State. With particular emphasis on the impact of single parenting on pupils’ class participation in social studies, attitude towards social studies and the problems associated with single parenting. The study was delimited to public primary schools in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State.

Pages:  50

Category: Project

Format:  Word & PDF               

Chapters: 1-5                                          

Source: Imsuinfo

Material contains Table of Content, Abstract and References.