AbstractThe research work investigated the effects of single parenthood on pupils academic achievement in primary school in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State. The research work employed the use of questionnaires in gathering data for analysis and it contained the following items: name of the respondents, school, age, sex, class, religion. Data is presented in tables and frequencies while percentage was used to analyse. From the analysis, children from single parents do lack affection, involved in delinquent behaviour and always hostile and aggressive, and do not perform well academically. And more so, single mother and father affect the children’s educational outcome. With the result obtained and fact finding highlight families and the causes of with whom children live, for both single mother and single father families divorce has more impacts on children’s educational achievement. In conclusion it was recommended that children from single parenthood should be encouraged on the three basic dimension of self esteem namely sense of belonging, sense of worth and sense of competence. They need positive change for the overall adjustment. Also, parents should tolerate, accommodate, appreciate and understand each other in marriage so as to curb the effects on children’s future. Both parents should try to stay together for the sake of good upbringing of their children, whenever there is problem in the home, the couple should seek God’s direction and a good counsellor for help or otherwise, settle the problems between themselves amicably.
Chapter OneIntroduction1.1 Background of the Study
All over the world, and in Nigeria to be specific, education is accorded a place of pride because it is the means through which the culture of different societies is passed down through succeeding generations. Over the years the investigation of the factors that influence academic performance of pupils have attracted the interest and concern of teachers, counsellors, psychologist, researchers and schools administrators in Nigeria (Wiseman 1973; Sogbetun 1981). This is because of the public outcries concerning the low standard of education in the country. Imgoe (2002). One of the factors affecting low standard of education in the country is single parenthood which is affecting nation wide. Single parenthood can be seen as a situation whereby one of the parent is no longer in the union that produced the child. According to Oyedele (1995) it can also be seen as a situation whereby only one of the parent raises the child or children. Single-parenthood can be defined as when one out of two people who is responsible for the nurturing and child rearing is not available, and the work meant for two people, is now been carried out by only one person. According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, single-parenting has been defined as a mother or father who looks after children on their own, without the other partner. Along with substantial prevalence of single parenthood, researchers in the United State and Western Europe have extensively examined consequences of growing up with a single parent and its negative association with children’s education. Although single parenthood is negatively associated with children’s educational outcomes in most western countries, recent comparative studies showed that the strength of the negative relationship varies significantly across countries (Hampden Thompson and Pong, 2005).
Compared to the large number of studies on single parenthood in western industrial countries and even in some developing countries, little research has addressed the issue in societies that have recently experienced automatic changes in family structure, especially the rapid increase in divorce rate in West Africa. Nigeria has experienced a rapid increase in divorce, which makes it important to examine the effect of single parenthood and its impacts on pupils academic achievement and well-being. Murray (1985) sees divorce as a separation of the parent or if one of the parent is away from home for a long time through work, illness or imprisonment. Adenowo (1995) also says that divorce for definite purpose can be described as the act of formal dissolving of a marriage and the two parent reverts to the status of becoming single once again. This analysis becomes necessary because life in a single parent family can be stressful for both the child and the parent. Such families are faced with challenges of diminishing financial resources.
This study examines how children of single parent families fare in their educational outcomes. The relationship between single parenthood and children’s education may vary across societies depending on broad family and other social structures surrounding single parenthood. Examining relationships between family structure and children’s education in Nigeria; one of the “strong family” countries in which the rate of single-parent families has recently risen, may contribute to the understanding of the implication of rapid family change for children’s well-being.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Single parenthood as a school factor is a major determinant of the effectiveness of children’s education and this may influence pupils academic achievement in the school. Therefore, problems and issues that might hamper the effective practice of education need to be studied with a view to eradicate them. One of such problems is single parenthood which has been a subject of multidimensional argument with regard to its effects on pupils academic achievement. Therefore, this study seeks to provide empirical evidence on the influence of single parenthood on the academic achievement of school pupils in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The purpose of the study are the following:
i. To identify and discuss the types of single-parent families.
ii. To highlight the effect of single-parenthood on pupils academic achievement.
iii. To highlight the academic performances of different pupils from different single-parent families.
iv. To highlight the challenges pupils from single parent families face in their academic achievement.
1.4 Significance of the Study
It is expected that the result obtained from this study apart from identifying the effect of single-parenthood on pupils academic achievement will also be of great value to curriculum planner’s and teachers. Since this study tends to look at the effect of single parenthood on pupils academic achievement and the solutions to bring about positive changes in pupils academic performance. This study is also expected to draw the attention of educators, parent and government to need for single parenthood reduction through a decrease in divorce rate and increase in household income. Also, this study tends to give great relief to the parent who are either widows or widowers on the way to train their children in a right form for better future.
1.5 Research Questions
i. To what extent does divorced single-father families affect the pupils academic achievement?
ii. Does widower single-father families affect the pupils academic achievement?
iii. To what extent does divorced single-mother families affect the pupils academic achievement?
iv. Does widowed single-mother families affect the pupils academic achievement?
v. What is the difference in the academic achievement between children from two-parent families and those from single-parent families?.
Utafiti huo ulijaribu kugundua athari za kuwa mzazi mmoja kwa mafanikio ya wanafunzi katika shule ya msingi katika eneo la serikali ya Odeda katika jimbo la Ogun. Utafiti huo ulitumia maswali ya maswali katika kukusanya data kwa ajili ya uchambuzi na ilikuwa na vitu vifuatavyo: jina la waliohojiwa, shule, umri, jinsia, darasa, dini. Takwimu ni iliyotolewa katika meza na mzunguko wakati asilimia ilitumiwa kuchambua. Kwa mujibu wa uchunguzi huo, watoto wa wazazi wasio na wenzi wa ndoa hawana upendo, wana tabia mbaya, ni wenye uhasama na wana tabia mbaya katika masomo. Na zaidi ya hayo, mama na baba walio peke yao huathiri matokeo ya elimu ya watoto. Kwa sababu ya matokeo yaliyopatikana na utambuzi wa ukweli unaangazia familia na sababu za watoto wanaoishi na, kwa mama mmoja na familia za baba mmoja, talaka ina athari zaidi kwa mafanikio ya elimu ya watoto. Kwa hivyo, ni muhimu kuwa na watoto wa wazazi wa pekee ambao wana uwezo wa kujitegemea, na wana uwezo wa kujitegemea, na wana uwezo wa kujitegemea. Wanahitaji mabadiliko mazuri kwa ajili ya marekebisho ya jumla. Pia, wazazi wanapaswa kuvumiliana, kukaribisha, kuthamini na kuelewa kila mmoja katika ndoa ili kuzuia athari kwenye siku zijazo za watoto. Wazazi wote wawili wanapaswa kujaribu kukaa pamoja kwa ajili ya malezi mazuri ya watoto wao, wakati wowote kuna tatizo nyumbani, wanandoa wanapaswa kutafuta mwelekeo wa Mungu na mshauri mzuri kwa msaada au vinginevyo, kutatua matatizo kati yao wenyewe kwa urafiki. Katika nchi nyingi duniani, hasa nchini Nigeria, elimu ni kitu cha kujivunia kwa sababu ni njia ambayo utamaduni wa jamii mbalimbali hupitishwa kwa vizazi vijavyo. Kwa miaka mingi, uchunguzi wa mambo yanayoathiri utendaji wa wanafunzi katika masomo umevutia na kuwahangaisha walimu, washauri, wanasaikolojia, watafiti na wasimamizi wa shule nchini Nigeria (Wiseman, 1973; Sogbetun, 1981). Hii ni kwa sababu ya kelele za umma kuhusu kiwango cha chini cha elimu nchini. Imgoe (2002). Moja ya sababu zinazoathiri kiwango cha chini cha elimu nchini ni wazazi wa pekee ambao wanaathiri nchi nzima. Uraia wa mzazi mmoja unaweza kuonekana kama hali ambapo mmoja wa wazazi haupo tena katika muungano ambao ulizalisha mtoto. Kulingana na Oyedele (1995) inaweza pia kuonekana kama hali ambapo mmoja tu wa wazazi hulea mtoto au watoto. "Uzazi wa mzazi mmoja ni hali ambayo mtu mmoja kati ya watu wawili wanaohusika na kulea na kulea mtoto hawezi kuwapo, na kazi inayotakiwa kwa watu wawili sasa inafanywa na mtu mmoja tu.""" "Kulingana na Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, ""mzazi mmoja"" ni mama au baba ambaye huwatunza watoto peke yake, bila mwenzi mwingine." Pamoja na kuenea kwa hali ya kuwa mzazi mmoja, watafiti nchini Marekani na Ulaya Magharibi wamechunguza kwa kina matokeo ya kukua na mzazi mmoja na uhusiano wake mbaya na elimu ya watoto. Ingawa kuwa mzazi mmoja ni uhusiano mbaya na matokeo ya elimu ya watoto katika nchi nyingi za Magharibi, masomo ya hivi karibuni ya kulinganisha yalionyesha kwamba nguvu ya uhusiano mbaya hutofautiana sana kati ya nchi (Hampden, Thompson na Pong, 2005). "Kulinganisha na idadi kubwa ya masomo juu ya uzazi wa mzazi mmoja katika nchi za magharibi za viwanda na hata katika baadhi ya nchi zinazoendelea, utafiti mdogo umeshughulikia suala hilo katika jamii ambazo hivi karibuni zimepata mabadiliko ya moja kwa moja katika muundo wa familia, haswa ongezeko la haraka la kiwango cha talaka katika Afrika Magharibi. """ Nigeria imeona ongezeko la haraka la talaka, ambayo inafanya kuwa muhimu kuchunguza athari ya uzazi wa mzazi mmoja na athari zake kwa mafanikio ya kitaaluma na ustawi wa wanafunzi. Murray (1985) anaona talaka kama kutenganishwa kwa mzazi au ikiwa mzazi mmoja yuko mbali na nyumbani kwa muda mrefu kwa sababu ya kazi, ugonjwa au kifungo. Adenowo (1995) pia anasema kwamba talaka kwa kusudi maalum inaweza kuelezwa kama kitendo cha kufutwa rasmi kwa ndoa na wazazi wawili wanarudi kwa hadhi ya kuwa single tena. Uchunguzi huo unahitajika kwa sababu maisha katika familia ya mzazi mmoja yaweza kuwa yenye mkazo kwa mtoto na mzazi pia. Familia hizo hukabili matatizo ya kupungua kwa rasilimali. Utafiti huu unachunguza jinsi watoto wa familia za mzazi mmoja wanavyofanikiwa katika matokeo yao ya kielimu. Uhusiano kati ya wazazi mmoja na elimu ya watoto inaweza kutofautiana katika jamii kulingana na familia pana na miundo mingine ya kijamii inayozunguka wazazi mmoja. Uchunguzi wa uhusiano kati ya muundo wa familia na elimu ya watoto nchini Nigeria, moja ya nchi zenye familia imara, ambapo kiwango cha familia za mzazi mmoja kimepanda hivi karibuni, inaweza kuchangia uelewa wa athari za mabadiliko ya haraka ya familia kwa ustawi wa watoto. "Mfano: ""Uzazi wa mzazi mmoja kama sababu ya shule ni sababu kuu ya ufanisi wa elimu ya watoto na hii inaweza kuathiri mafanikio ya wanafunzi katika shule.""" Kwa hiyo, matatizo na masuala ambayo yanaweza kuzuia mazoezi ya ufanisi wa elimu yanahitaji kuchunguzwa kwa lengo la kuondoa yao. Moja ya matatizo hayo ni single parenthood ambayo imekuwa mada ya hoja multidimensional kuhusiana na athari zake juu ya wanafunzi mafanikio ya kitaaluma. Kwa hivyo, utafiti huu unatafuta kutoa ushahidi wa kihistoria juu ya ushawishi wa uzazi wa mzazi mmoja kwenye mafanikio ya kitaaluma ya wanafunzi wa shule katika eneo la Serikali ya Mitaa ya Odeda ya Jimbo la Ogun. Lengo la utafiti huu ni kama ifuatavyo: Kutambua na kujadili aina za familia zenye mzazi mmoja. ii. Ili kuangazia athari ya kuwa mzazi mmoja juu ya mafanikio ya kitaaluma ya wanafunzi. iii. Ili kuangazia utendaji wa kitaaluma wa wanafunzi tofauti kutoka familia tofauti za mzazi mmoja. iv. Ili kuangazia changamoto wanafunzi kutoka familia za mzazi mmoja inakabiliwa katika mafanikio yao ya kitaaluma. """Tafiti hii inatarajiwa kuwa matokeo yaliyopatikana kutoka kwa utafiti huu, mbali na kutambua athari ya kuwa mzazi mmoja juu ya mafanikio ya kitaaluma ya wanafunzi, pia itakuwa na thamani kubwa kwa wapangaji wa mtaala na walimu." Utafiti huu unaangalia athari za kuwa mzazi mmoja juu ya mafanikio ya kitaaluma ya wanafunzi na suluhisho la kuleta mabadiliko mazuri katika utendaji wa kitaaluma wa wanafunzi. Utafiti huu pia unatarajiwa kuvutia uangalifu wa walimu, wazazi na serikali kwa haja ya kupunguza uzazi wa mzazi mmoja kupitia kupungua kwa kiwango cha talaka na ongezeko la mapato ya kaya. Pia, utafiti huu huwapa faraja kubwa wazazi ambao ni wajane au wajane katika njia ya kuwazoeza watoto wao katika fomu sahihi kwa ajili ya siku zijazo bora. 1.5 Maswali ya Utafiti Familia za baba mmoja zilizotalikiana huathiri kwa kadiri gani mafanikio ya kitaaluma ya wanafunzi? ii. Je, familia za wajane wenye baba mmoja huathiri mafanikio ya wanafunzi katika masomo? iii. Familia zilizotalikiwa na mama mmoja huathiri kwa kadiri gani mafanikio ya wanafunzi katika masomo? iv. Je, familia zenye mama mmoja walio waume huathiri mafanikio ya wanafunzi katika masomo? V. Ni nini tofauti katika mafanikio ya kitaaluma kati ya watoto kutoka familia za wazazi wawili na wale kutoka familia za mzazi mmoja?