INFLUENCE OF PARENTAL SEPARATION ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

1.1 Introduction

Parental Separation is a legal termination of marriage between a husband and wife. Marriage fails due to certain marital problems such as aggressiveness of one of the partners, physical or emotional abuse, alcohol or drug addiction, family stress and strain or infidelity of a partner. Separation of parents from children tends to pose a serious threat to attainment of their educational goals since they (the children affected) lack the necessary parental role or care from parents. This is a problem that needs to be addressed so as to avoid any possible backwardness in academic attainment of students concerned.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Parental separation tends to affect the development of children of which educational development is inclusive. However, the academic achievement of students could be attributed to the influence of both parents. A lot of outstanding members of society have come from singled parent homes and even from foster homes where no parents were present. The need for the presence of parents in a child’s life cannot be over emphasized as it goes a long way in ensuring the academic achievement of the student’s in school. Parents presence tends to influence the performance of their children or wards in school either positively or negatively.

Separation of parents and the resulting emotional instability in the home are likely to affect the academic achievement of their children. Recent research has shown that separation of parents occur when relationship between the parents had broken down or because of migration of either parents, from one geographical location to another i.e not staying within the same geographical location.

The role that parents play in the upbringing of a child is very important. Children look up-to their parents for guidance, protection and motivation to live a great life. One of the best ways to achieve wholesome qualities of education is the partnership of parents and teachers in injecting valuable skills, conduct, and knowledge to the students (Dautscher & Ibe, 2003). Academics are one of the most important aspects of a student’s life, with good grades, students are able to get into colleges and universities, and allow them to earn degrees in order to obtain jobs that they want. If the relationship between the student’s parents is unstable and filled with conflict, this can alter the student’s academic performance (Afifi, 2013; Brown, 2012; Overland, 2012).

Udansky and Wolf (2008) identified single parenting as a major problem on the rise. Parent separations is a common phenomenon in the community today, but still represent a major life stressor for the individuals involved, with potentially strong negative consequences for the mental and physical health of all members of the family. The effect of separation on child academic performance has been the subject of research attention for several decades, and has long been viewed as the cause of a range of serious and enduring behavioural and emotional problems in children and adolescents (Kelly & Emery, 2003).

Udansky and Wolf (2008) identified single parenting as a major problem on the rise. Parent separations is a common phenomenon in the community today, but still represent a major life stressor for the individuals involved, with potentially strong negative consequences for the mental and physical health of all members of the family. The effect of separation on child academic performance has been the subject of research attention for several decades, and has long been viewed as the cause of a range of serious and enduring behavioural and emotional problems in children and adolescents (Kelly & Emery, 2003).

A child biological temperament plays a vital role in the eruption and resolution of separation (Davies 2003). According to Ekundayo & Oyeniyi (2008) and Adebule (2012), the society is tackling with many behavior problems of the adolescent students, which include truancy, disobedience, drug addiction, smoking, flirting, stealing, armed robbery, examination malpractice, cultism, sexual abuse, sex activities, indiscriminate sex, homosexual (gay and lesbianism) as part of behavior problems prevalent among students (Omotosho, Adeniyi and Bada 2010).

The issue of parental separation is an increasing social problem that has become a topic for discussion in recent times; it is traumatic for those who experience it. Those affected may experience grief, embarrassment, resentment, disappointment, intense anger and divided loyalty. Adebowale (2006) in a study on the social behavior of adolescents as it affects their moral behavior observed that the type of home which the adolescent comes from, determine to a considerable extent, the type of attitude which he will develop to exhibit and his academic performance. Parental separation has a long and lasting impact on lives of any student. The state of the home or the marital status of adolescent parents speaks volume about the life of the child.

Separated homes have been found as a crucial factor causing anti-social problems poor academic performances among secondary school adolescence. Olusola (2008) believed that the highest incidence of adolescents whose parents are living separately may become way-ward, unruly, or take to sexual misconduct as a way of searching for affection which was lacking in their unhappy parental home. Many researchers have shown that immoral behavior and poor academic performance are prevalent among adolescents who are from unstable or separated family, with less adequate parental training on their moral and social attitudes (William, 2002).

Therefore, in Kuje Area Council, Abuja where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to assess the Influence of Parental Separation on Academic Performance of Secondary School Students.

1.3 Statement of the Problem

Investigation revealed that the issue of parental separation is an increasing social problem that has become a topic for discussion in recent times; it is traumatic for those who experience it. Those affected may experience grief, embarrassment, resentment, disappointment, intense anger and divided loyalty. Children need a secure emotional base after their parents separate, exactly as they needed before (McIntosh, 2005). The major protective factors that facilitate children’s adjustment to divorce are low inter-parental conflict, effective and constructive resolution of conflict between the parents, the quality of the parent-child relationship, nurturing, authoritative parenting from at least one parent, and cooperative co-parenting with good communication (McIntosh, 2003).

It is these family processes that contribute to determining children’s academic performance, well-being and ‘outcomes’, rather than family structures per se (such as the number, gender, sexuality and co-habitation status of parents) Kelly (2000). Single parenthood may arise when either the male or female decides to produce and rear a child or children outside; parents can help make a smooth transition for their children during a divorce (Wolf 2008). Parents can present a reliable and cooperative parenting style when providing their children with discipline and behaviour expectations (Carlson and Hines, 2003). This study therefore intends to assess parent separation on the academic performance of secondary school students.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The main aim of the study is to assess the influence of parental separation on the academic achievement of secondary schools students. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to:

1. Investigate the influence of single parent family on students’ academic performance
2. Determine if there is any relationship between parental separation and academic performance of the adolescents
3. Examine various reasons for parental separation
4. Identify effects of parental separation on adolescents

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Will single parent family have any significant influence on students’ academic performance?
• Does parent socio-economic status have any significant influence on students’ academic performance?
• Is there is any relationship between parental separation and academic performance of the adolescents?
• What are the various reasons that lead to parental separation?
• What are the effects of parental separation on adolescents?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

• H₀1: There is no significant relationship between single parent family and students’ academic performance
• H₀2: There is no significant relationship between parental socio-economic status and students’ academic performance
• H₀3: There is no significant difference between academic performance of students from single parent family and academic performance of students from intact family.
• H₀4: There is no significant relationship between parental separation and academic performance of the adolescents

1.7 Significance of Study

The study hopes to contribute to knowledge by shedding light on the effect of parental separation on the academic achievement of the students in secondary schools. It will also generate enough data for teachers, social workers, government, counsellors, psychologists and parents concerned with the care and welfare of the children under their watch. This study also hopes to inform and guide parents on the need to maintain their homes as separation could have adverse effects on children. In addition, this study would also seek to enlighten students on the effect parental separation and socio-economic status of parents would have on their academic performance.

1.8 Scope of Study

The study focuses on the Influence of Parental Separation on Academic Performance of Secondary School Students in Kuje Area Council, Abuja.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
4. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
5. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

1.10 Operational Definition of Terms

Parent: Parents are caretakers of the offspring in their own specie i.e. one who takes care of his/her biological children.

Guardian: Guardians are people who by appointment or by relationship have the care a person.

Adolescent: An adolescent is child between childhood and adulthood usually between the ages of 10 and 19.

Adolescence: This is a transitional state of physical and psychological human development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to legal adulthood.

Parenting: This is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adult hood.

Separation: The condition of being apart, especially the condition of two people who had lived together or been married living in different places.