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THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS OF PARENTS ON CHILDREN ACCESS TO SECONDARY EDUCATION

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the Study

Education not only provides knowledge and skills, but also inculcates values, training of instincts, fostering right attitude and habits. According to Muhammed and Muhammed (2010) they are of the opinion that, cultural heritage and values are transmitted from one generation to another through Education. The responsibility of training a child always lies in the hand of the parents. This is congruent with the common assertion by sociologist that education can be an instrument of cultural change which is being taught from home is relevant in this discuss. It is not out of place to imagine that parental socio-economic background can have possible effects on the academic achievement of children in school. Whatsoever affect the developmental stage of children would possibly affect their education or disposition to it. Parental status is one of such variables. When a woman’s nutritional status improves, so too does the nutrition of her young children “Parents of different occupational classes often have different styles of child rearing, different ways of disciplining their children and different ways of reacting to their children. These differences do not express themselves consistently as expected in the case of every families, rather they influence the average tendencies of families for different occupational classes.” (Rothestein, 2004).

In line with the above assertion, Hill et al. (2004) had also argued that socio-economic status of parents do not only affect the academic performance, but also access to good and secondary education and also makes it possible for children from low background to compete with their counterparts from high socio-economic background under the same academic environment. Moreover, Smith, Fagan and Ulvund (2002) had asserted that significant predictor of intellectual performance at age of 8 years included parental socio-economic status (SES). In the same vein, other researchers had posited that parental SES could affect school children as to bring about flexibility to adjustment to the different school schedules (Guerin et al., 2001). The same view is shared by Machebe (2012), in her research, concluded that, parental socio-economic status could influence academic performance of their children at school. In a previous local finding in Nigeria, Oni (2007) and Omoegun (2007) had averred that there is significant difference between the rates of deviant behavior among students from high and low socio-economic statuses.

The health status of the children which could also be traceable to parental socio-economic background can be another factor that can affect the academic performance of the students, Adewale (2002) had reported that in a rural community where nutritional status is relatively low and health problems are prevalent, children academic performance is greatly hindered. This assertion is again hinged on nature of parental socio-economic background. Moreover, Eze (1996) had opined that when a child get proper nutrition, health care, stimulation during pre-school years, the ability to interact with and take optimal advantage of the full complement of resources offered by a formal learning environment is enhanced.

According to World Bank (2007) non-school factors such as education of parents, child rearing practices, nutrition, health care and pre-school education have more effect on children access to education, it further states that positive school factors such as teachers and books have more effects in developed countries than in developing countries. Thus, positive effects of school inputs are frequently greater in children from lower socio-economic background than those from higher socio-economic background.

The issue of poverty is one of the central factors that can affect the demand for education in the socio-economic status of the client of education system UNICEF (2004) poor households are out rapped in a poverty cycle and lack capacity and resources to enable them to afford adequate and balanced food, consequently the inability of the poor to meet the cost of education for their children. As the level of poverty rises, children labor becomes crucial for family survival (Abagi, 1997). Child labor is increasingly employed in domestic activities, agriculture and petty trade in both rural and urban center and in some cases children themselves have to analyze the opportunity cost of education. As a result parents have continued to send their children in the labor markets mainly as domestic workers in urban centers.

1.2     Statement of the Problem

The role of parental involvement in their student’s school children’s education cannot be over-emphasized. Parents play a critical role in modeling their children’s ensuring effective communication between them and the secondary education and identifying the critical needs as regards their children’s academic requirements. Student’s learning and behavior like that of adult will be affected by a range of interacting factors, some of which ride within the learner while others can be traced to the environment and the government policies. The goal of schooling is to provide access to children of school going age on equitable basis thus ensuring education for all learners (MOEST, 2003). In many developing countries like Nigeria the rate of access in schools is low and has been described as a scarce industry (Murungi, 2006). This is mainly attributed to the socio economic status of the parents, the problem of low access in secondary education is therefore worth investigation due to the fact that lives of many students are at risk of being wasted, therefore this research intends to find out the influence of socio economic factors of parents on their children access to secondary education.

1.3     Objectives of the Study

The main objectives of this study is to find out the socio economic factors of parents on their children access to secondary education, specifically the study intends to;

1.     Find out the socio economic status of parents that affects their children education

2.     Examine the challenges that impedes secondary education of students in secondary schools

3.     Analyze the effect of socio economic factors of parents on their children access to secondary education

1.4     Research Questions

1.     What are the socio economic status of parents that affects their children education?

2.     Are there challenges that impedes secondary education of students in secondary schools?

3.     Is there any significant effect of socio economic factors of parents on their children access to secondary education?

1.5     Research Hypothesis

Ho: there is no significant effect of socio economic factors of parents on their children access to secondary education

Hi: there is significant effect of socio economic factors of parents on their children access to secondary education

1.6     Significance of the Study

The findings of the study may be useful to various institutions, education authorities, parents, politicians and policy makers the community and country at large. The study will be of significance to quality assurance and standards officers to improve on access of students and general education standards. The policy makers may use the findings to formulate policies enhancing access rate e.g. policies regarding promotion from one grade to another. The education planners may use the findings to advice the government on budget allocation and necessary cause of action to facilitate access in public secondary schools. The findings of the study may be used by all stakeholders to minimize or eradicate low access resulting from any quarters.

1.7     Scope of the Study

This research work will be carried out in Lagos state, Alimosho LGA will be used for this research.

1.8     Delimitation of the Study

Finance for the general research work will be a challenge during the course of study. Correspondents also might not be able to complete or willing to submit the questionnaires given to them.

However, it is believed that these constraints will be worked on by making the best use of the available materials and spending more than the necessary time in the research work. Therefore, it is strongly believed that despite these constraint, its effect on this research report will be minimal, thus, making the objective and significance of the study achievable.

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