THE IMPACT OF PARENTAL SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ON STUDENTS’ SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT AND ACADEMIC ATTAINMENT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Education is the key to building a vibrant, productive society that provides chances and justice to everyone. Education is the most valuable legacy that parents can leave to their children. The evolution of a country begins with the family. When a family is successful in instilling positive values in their children, the country as a whole improves. It is widely assumed that the foundation for any meaningful progress must begin with the development of human resources. Formal education is the manifestation of such goals to construct a healthy and strong economy in an effective and efficient manner.

In Nigeria, the primary activities of educational institutions are to create and develop human potential to meet the nation's development needs at all levels. According to the forewords to the National Policy on Education (2013) edition, education is viewed as an investment for economic, social, and political development; an aggregate tool of empowerment for the poor and socially marginalized groups; an effective means of developing full capacities and potentials of human resources, as well as the development of competent work force through the acquisition of practical life skills relevant to the world of work as a veritable means of ostracization. It is crucial to underline from the outset that educational institutions in Nigeria are loaded with huge obligations, but there are circumstances working against their accomplishment. When such differences in scores are investigated, it is more typically determined that family history is a substantial contributory element. It is therefore critical to investigate the extent of such contributions and their impact on children in order to provide valuable recommendations to parents and teachers, educational planners, and the government.

According to a recent study, socioeconomic status is one of the most explored and disputed factors among educational experts that influences students' academic achievement (Muola, 2019). The most common claim is that learners' socioeconomic position influences the quality of their academic achievement. Most experts say that pupils' poor socioeconomic level has a detrimental impact on their academic performance since their fundamental needs are not met, and hence they do not do well academically (Adams, 1996).

Parental participation may take various forms, including effective parenting at home, providing a secure and stable environment, intellectual stimulation, parent-child interaction, positive examples of constructive social and educational ideals, and high expectations for personal fulfillment and good citizenship. Contact with schools to provide information is also required, as is involvement in school activities, engagement in school work, and participation in school governance (Desforges and Abouchaar, 2021). Many research have examined parental participation and its influence on children's learning and behavior, but few have investigated what drives parents to become involved. According to Ogbemudia and Aiasa (2019), these pupils' parents or guardians are responsible for creating a favorable home environment for their children's effective learning. Furthermore, parental educational background, history, parental economic condition (at least an average financial level), parental marital status, and parental home location all have an influence on a student's academic achievement in their home environment. Much emphasis will be placed on sound human relations when evaluating the parental marital status on students' academic performance, as a home environment that is tense due to divorce or an unhealthy atmosphere of quarreling, fighting due to polygamy cannot foster learning, as the pupils' minds will not be settled in order to allow for creativity.

Importantly, a child's capacity to perform in school is determined by how well his or her parents manage the youngster at home. It is a setting in which the kid may learn the skills, attitudes, and behaviors that will shape them into a productive and successful student. However, not every child is born into a family that can provide them with the necessary educational resources for academic success. A parent's socioeconomic status plays an important role in providing these educational resources and appears to have the greatest impact on the child's educational outcomes (Vellymalay, 2020). When compared to other characteristics, socioeconomic position has a rather substantial influence on parental participation in kids' academic accomplishment.

1.2       STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The dilemma of student performance in schools has been a subject of concern since the inception of modern education. Many countries have recognized that students are at the heart of the educational process and that without great performance, all educational advancements would fail. According to Uyanga (2022), many countries are dissatisfied with the current condition of education, and parents are to blame. Hence the disparity in student performance and academic performance quality is a cause of tremendous anxiety and discomfiture for both parents, school administrators, policymakers, and various governments responsible for secondary school education.

Experience has shown that there are some differences among secondary school students that influence student academic performance, such as some students being able to pay their school fees promptly, while others were frequently sent away for non-payment of school fees, and some students having a problem with the provision of school uniform but others do not. Similarly, some students were inspired by their parents by providing educational equipment such as computers, textbooks, and exercise books, while others were not, and some students came to school fully fed while others did not. The question then becomes whether the effect of familial background played a role in these situations or whether variables like parents level of education, income level or occupational type affect parents involvement towards child’s academic attainment. Upon this premise this research seeks to examine the impact of parental socioeconomic status on  students' school involvement and academic attainment

1.3  OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objective of this study is to examine the impact of parental socioeconomic status on students' school involvement and academic attainment. These specific objectives are to.

i.          To determine if  parents type of occupations  influences their involvement towards student’s academic achievement.

ii.        To examine whether parents level of education affects  their involvement towards student’s academic performance.

iii.      To investigate whether parents level of income impacts their involvement towards   student’s academic attainment.

1.4       RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

 For the purpose of this research work the following research hypotheses have been formulated;

1.4       RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

The following hypothesis will be tested to guide this study;

HO1:  Parents type of occupations  does not influence their involvement towards student’s academic achievement.

HO2: Parents level of education does not affect  their involvement towards student’s academic performance.

HO3:  Parents level of income does not impacts their involvement towards   student’s academic attainment.

1.5       SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY

This research, when finished, will assist parents in understanding the impact of the family on children, both positively and adversely, in connection to their school participation and academic success. They will be able to implement methods of academically successful child rearing based on the advice provided. Likewise, it is likely to motivate parents to make their children's school experience somewhat comfortable. This study might also assist children from varied homes in understanding and remembering their parents' failure to supply them with all the essential school supplies, as well as empathizing with their family difficulties and situations. In addition, educational and curriculum designers should be guided to create curricula without rigidity in order to accommodate a culturally varied setting. In addition, instructors would be aware that a positive teacher-parent connection may mitigate the impact of a child's familial history on his or her academic success. Empirically, the study will contribute to the body of knowledge and serve as a resource for students and academics who desire to do more research on this subject.

1.6       SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study will focus mainly on the the impact of parental socioeconomic status on students' school involvement and academic attainment. The study is delimited to selected secondary school in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

 1.7      LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

As with any human endeavor, the researchers experienced minor obstacles in conducting the study. Due to the novelty of the discourse, the scarcity of literature on the topic was the most important limitation. The researcher expended more financial costs and devoted a great deal of time to locating relevant materials, literature, or information, as well as to the process of data collection; hence, the sample size was restricted to secondary schools in Abuja Municipal. Therefore, the outcomes of this study cannot be generalized to elementary schools in other Nigerian states. In addition, the researcher will simultaneously participate in other academic tasks, which will prevent him or her from devoting full attention to the research. However, despite the limitations faced throughout the research, all aspects were minimized in order to provide the best results and ensure the success of the study. 

1.8     OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

The study makes use of certain concepts, which need explanation and this is due to the relativity of concepts and the meaning.

Occupational Status: Person’s trade vocation or principalmeans of earning living.

Socio-Economic Status: This refers to positionof recognition which one finds him in the society. Such a position may not be hereditary but acquired through personal efforts like education, wealth, occupation and social class.

 Academic Performance: This refers to the student’s achievement, scores within the class and position relative to allthose subjected to the same test.

Parental Educational Attainment: Is the highest grade completed by parents within the most advanced level attended in the educational system.

 Parental Occupation: Is the work that a parent does. It is an activity that a person spends time doing.

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