CHAPTER ONE

1.0            INTRODUCTION

1.1            Background to the Study

          In a society that demands a high level of education and skill for a successful and stable future, a decent education in becoming increasingly important.

A child’s education is the shared responsibility of the school and the home outside the school, the home is the most salient source of learning, encouragement and support for a child.

However, parental influences is often overlooked in discussion of a child’s academic performance.

Alison Rich; (2002). Amines the different ways that parents influence their children’s education. The component of parental influence are discussed under three (3) main heading:-

(i)                Parental resources

(ii)             Parental support

(iii)           Parental involvement

Parental Resources: Refers to income levels parental education and parental employment. A high family income can increase education opportunities and means that there is more likely to be educational materials in the home such as books, computer, and so on. Having a parent who has a high level of education is also an important factor.

Resource shows that children from highly educated families often follow in their parent footsteps are more likely to complete high school and undertake further study. In addition, a parent employment may affect their children’s education.

Children with unemployed parental are less likely to complete school, are less likely to do well at school. Parental involvement in a child’s education can be crucial in developing a child’s academic ability and confidence, parents can actively contribute to the functioning of their child’s education by taking part in school committees attending sporting and social events. Attending parents teachers association, volunteering and so on. By so doing parents positively influence their child’s schooling experience and children are more likely to see the importance of education. If their parent are involved.

Also parent can influence their child’s educational outcome by maintaining an interest in their child’s progress at school and their post school plan.

Rich (2002).Argues that the home environment should be conductive for learning. In the years prior to school, parents can do a lot to build strong foundations for a successful and positive school experience. Parents can continue to help, develop their child’s skill and abilities, even if this means talking to their child’s about certain issues or school related topic.

If parents cannot invest time in active school participation, or cannot afford to provide educational materials or lack the academic ability to help with school work, they can at least provide parental support this can be done by making an effort to enforce good study habits and by holding high aspiration for their child’s progress.

Parents who value education can win the fight against all odds to ensure that their children achieve academically.

Any schooling reform that does not acknowledge the important of the parent will fail.

Rich (2002) moves forward to discuss issues affecting students study habit and academic performances. Family breakdown and how this influence children’s education. It is clear that family life has a significant impact on children’s education in many ways. In light of this family structure is a serious issue in education, especially given the increasing the rate of divorce and family breakdown due to number of reasons.

1.2            Statement of the Problem

1.3            Purpose of the Study

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1.4            Research Question

1.5            Significant of the Study

The finding of this research work will contribute to the knowledge of the researcher, parents, children, teachers and the entire general public, the contributions would also aid to the existing literature for further studies.

It is expected that this research work will:

a)     Serves as a reference point to other researchers who are interested in the area of parental influence.

b)    Encourage more researcher in these area to examine possibilities of other home based factors that are not included.

c)     Help and encourage parents of low background to improve their home environment to enable their children go to school and acquire the culture that goes with it.

d)    Be a source of benefit to teacher and other educational administrators in identifying the area of strength and weakness of their student and the influence of the home particularly of the secondary school student.

1.6            Scope of the Study

The subject of parental influence on the student study habits and their academic performance is critical, wide and consistency and dynamic changing with evolving trend in global environment.

The scope of the study would be limited to:

(i)                Bright Star International Group of School, Oyo

(ii)             Ojongbodu Grammar School, Oyo

(iii)           Community High School, Awumoro, Oyo

(iv)           Baptist High School, Isokun, Oyo

(v)             Opapa Grammar School, Oyo  

1.7            Definition of Terms

For the purpose of this work and clarity the following terms were used according to how they are defined:

(i)                Marital Status: Is a stage of an individual in relation with an internal union with another person in marriage.

(ii)             Home Environment: Is a place where people live, interact with each other and family homes ethnics and value are inculcate in the home.

(iii)           Educational Achievement: Is the learning outcome which is the end conduct of any academic investment of an individual in an educational setting.

(iv)           Effect: Is the ability of power to change how people behave, ethnic and feel about what happens.

(v)             Socio-economic Status: Is a state of how social and economic condition relates with each other.

(vi)           Occupation Status: Is the position an individual occupies which includes vocational role at a time to a living.

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