THE EFFECTS OF SINGLE PARENTING ON ECONOMICS STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN AKPABUYO L.G.A. OF CROSS RIVER STATE

Abstract

The study examined the effects of single parenting on academic performance of senior secondary school students. The study adopted survey research design. The population of the study was 3,000 students. Sample size of 200 students was drawn by stratified sampling technique. A self-developed instrument titled “Influence of Single Parenting on Academic Performance of Senior Secondary School Students” was used in data collection. The validity of the research instrument was carried out by two experts in Test and measurement unit. The reliability coefficient was 0.87 using split half reliability method. Examination records of SS2 students were collected to determine their academic performances. Data were analyzed using mean, and Standard Deviation. The study revealed that drop out of students from school, low self-esteem, frustration, difficulties in comprehension, not able to buy instructional materials, non-challant attitude towards learning, teenage pregnancy while in school, vulnerability to hard drugs and psychological imbalances are the sociological and psychological effects of single parenting on economics students academic performance. There was a significant difference between the academic performance of economic students from single parents home and those from two parents home. It was recommended that teachers should give tutorial lessons to students from single parent home that are under-performing in classes. Hence, they should be encouraged and be given much attention in order to step up their performances and also there is need for school counsellors to occasionally visit the students’ homes especially single parent homes for family counselling.