PROBLEM OF EXTENDED FAMILY SYSTEM ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE  OF STUDENTS IN SOME SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

        Students performance in secondary schools over the years, have not been very encouraging. This has been giving the government and parents a lot of causes for concern. Some analysts have likened the cause for concern of this problem to the incessant strike action embarked upon by teachers as a result of irregular payment of salaries. Others attribute it to lack of seriousness on the part of the students. These facts may not be far from the truth. The analysis however, cannot be said to be thorough without researching on student’s family background which goes a long way to affect their performance in school. This is what the study intends to make a research on. To spread the scope and concept of family and extended family system and its impacts on secondary school students performance in school. in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State the effects of extended family system on students performance has been prevalent, the performance of students from extended family has not been too impressive and since the system is practiced in Nigeria and Africa in general students cannot do without socializing with other family members.      

        According to Humbling and Matters (1976), “Hunanbings are basically social creatures created by society primarily through family’s influence” society creates the individual; the individual does not create the society. Therefore, in the local government man is allowed two or more wives and this is known as polygamy. Polygamy has constituted academic problems to students. Finally, extended family system has some positive impacts on students since it is the commonest family unit in the society. Members who are financially buoyant assist students who are related to them thereby enabling them to meet some of their needs in school. Against, this background, extended family system is one of the numerous traditional practices which western civilization has not been able to erase in the local government and it may be with us for a long time even in the presence of western threat.

1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

        In this research attempt will be made to look at the problems students face in some secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State as a result of extended family system. The study will also include some suggestions which can help to improve on their performance in school.

1.3    PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

        The aim of this study is to analyze the problems associated with extended family system in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. And to highlight some factors that gave rise to the system. The study also aims at giving recognition to families as the center of the society and how the family also influences student’s performances in school.

1.4    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

        The poor performances of students in school are as a result of extended family system. Therefore is important to study these problems so that the researcher will be in a better position to give appropriate advice to people concerned.

        This study will be of importance to social studies teachers as they would in the position to act as counsellors to the students. This work will make parents to be aware of various factors responsible for student’s poor performance in school. Nevertheless, parents have always blamed poor student’s academic attainment on laxity and lack of interest on the part of the teacher.

1.5    SCOPE OF THE STUDY

        In this study, I have limited myself to some secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. This is due to time factor, financial constraints and transportation problems.

1.6    HYPOTHESIS

        The following hypotheses are to be tested in this research.

1. Extended family system has a significant impact on student’s performance in secondary schools.
2. Students who put their family problems behind them in their school work performance better academically
3. The low performance of students in secondary schools is associated with extended family system.
4. When students are emotionally unstable, it affects their performance in school?     

 1.7   DEFINITION OF TERMS

Bilinea: Relationship through mother and father

Matrilineal: relationship through the mother

Patrilineal: relationship through the father

 Polygamy: Custom of have more than one wife at the same time.

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