PARENTS’ RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SOCIAL STUDIES IN OGOJA EDUCATIONZONE OF CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined parents’ religious background and students’ academic performance in Social Studies in secondary schools in Ogoja Education Zone, Cross River State, Nigeria. To achieve the purpose of this study, one research question and one null hypothesis was formulated to guide the study. Literature review was carried out based on the research variable. Ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. A sample of four hundred and seventy-three (473) students’ was used for the study. The selection was done through a multistage approach. The questionnaire titled Parents’ Religious Background Questionnaire (PRBQ) and Social Studies Performance Test (SSPT) were used for data collection. The reliability estimate of the instruments were established through Cronbach Alpha reliability method. One- Way analysis of variance was the statistical technique employed to test the hypothesis under study. The hypothesis was tested at .05 level of significance. The result of the analysis revealed that parents’ religious background significantly influence students’ academic performance in Social Studies. Based on the findings of the study it was recommended that, there should be workshops, seminars and sensitization campaigns to encourage Islamic religion to embrace western education as this will help to increase girl child education opportunities.