CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

it implies that the child would derive most care (Ortese, 1998). However, when

one of the parent is absent in a child's life, a gap is created as the child would lose

the support that would have emanated from that parent. Ortese (1998) and

Salami and Alawode (2000) have asserted that single parenting result from

divorce, separation of various kinds, having children from wedlock or death of one

spouse which leaves the roles in the hands of a single parent. According to Steck

(2009), the number of divorce cases has risen considerably in Europe since the

1960s and that the most affected countries include the United Kingdom, Portugal,

Denmark and Belgium. The writer notes that it has resulted in one-parent families

soaring in Europe. Latin America is equally experiencing a rise in one- parent

families (Steck. 2009). Over the past 35 years, United States of America's children

being raised in two-parent homes has dropped significantly from about 85% in

1968 to 70% in 2003 while the proportion of children living in single-parent

homes has nearly doubled (Center for Marriage and Families, 2005). In the same

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vein, Anderson (2002) presents that in the United States of America; almost half

of all children by age 15 will have lived in a single parent family. According to the

Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) (2012), population which is 12 years and older

constitute 16,886,306. Out of the total, 7,237,730 (42.9%) of them are married;

315,910 (1.9%) are separated; 574,271 (3.4%) are divorced while 823,562 (4.9%)

of them are widowed. This indicates that in Ghana about 1,713,743 (10.2%) of the

people are single parents (i.e., those people separated, divorced and widowed). In

the Upper West Region those married make up 235,341 (51.1%), those separated

constitute 3,682 (0.8%), divorced people are 4,091 (0.9%), and those that are

widowed represent 30,328 (6.6%) (GSS, 2012). The aggregate of single parents in

the Upper West Region who are 15 years and above is 38, 101 (8.3%) (GSS, 2005).

Similarly in the Wa Municipality, the study area, 9.2% are single parents (i.e.,

those separated, divorced and widowed). Considering these high figures of single

parenting in Ghana and the Wa Municipality in particular, little is known about

how single parenting affects children's academic performance. This study,

therefore contributes to the literature on whether there is a difference between

various forms of parenting and academic performance in the Wa Municipality.

Overall, it is clear that many children are currently living under single parents.

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Nonetheless, parents are primarily responsible for the educational and career

development of their children (Salami and Alawode, 2000). Hence, children under

such a family structure might not receive the necessary attention they required

because the single parent might be overwhelmed by many responsibilities.

There are many types of learning disruption which influence a child's learning and

adjustment in school. Influence of single parenthood on a child's academies

performance is one of immediate concern to an educationist as the child's most

immediate environment is the family. Time has really changed; many of the old

customs and tradition which were taught and practiced for several years are

becoming obsolete now. The modern culture has changed and outgrown the

values and beliefs that were thought to be the core beliefs and values of our

society. The truth is, what has been unacceptable in the olden days, is now

becoming fast and rapidly rising trends. For decades and even centuries, one of

the major concerning issues to the conservatives, is the issue of single-parenting.

Single-parenting is already becoming a fast and rapidlygrowing trend in the

society.

In Nigeria traditional system, the parental roles are culturally determined.

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Maternal role is that of childcare and home keeping while the paternal role is that

economic responsibilities and discipline of children. Generally, it is the

responsibility of the family, to train and bring up the child in the norm and values

of the society. They are to be responsible for the psychological and emotional

welfare of the child. The parents are mainly responsible for the educational and

career development of their children. However, divorce and separation of various

kinds or death of one spouse may put the roles in the hands of a single parent.

The family structure; ideally, provides a sense of security and stability that

is necessary for children. When there is breakdown in the family structure, it may

have a tremendous impact on a child and their ability to function ordinarily or

achieve academically. In most situations, the child no longer has two parents to

depend on. Therefore they have to rely on one parent to meet most, if not all

their needs. With limited finances, time and availability parents are less likely to

provide the adequate support a child needs to perform to the best of their ability.

This is not to say, necessarily that the parent raising them is not providing them

with more comprised of many different factor that can affect a child's level of

academic success.

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 Academic attainment is an important parameter in measuring success in

students. Observations and reports that show that success or high academic

achievement has become a herculean task to accomplish by students in recent

times. Poor academic performance of students has been of great concern to

educationist, guidance and counsellor in particular. Despite all guidance programs

and counselling strategies mounted in schools to improve student's academic

performance yet poor performance are recorded yearly.

Family background is the foundation for children development, as such

family background in terms of family structure, size, socio _ economic status and

educational background play important role in student educational attainment

and social integration (Osunloye, 2008). However, reviewed literature indicated

that there is an awareness of the importance of the home environment on family

or siblings or children academic performance. The home has a great influence on

the child's psychological, emotional, social and economic state. In the view of Alila

and Olutolo (2000), the state of the home affect the individual since the parent

are the first socializing agent in the individual's life. This is because the family

background and context of a child affect his reaction to life situation and his level

of performance. Family structure in terms of single and two parent families has

been noted to have a significant influence on student performance and mental

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development. (Tenibiaje, 2009; Eweniyi, 2005). This is because providing a

supportive learning environment at home requires parent's time as much as

financial resource. According to Salami and Alawode (2000), the existence of

single parent in Nigeria is formerly unknown and where they existed they are

ignored as exceptional cases. However nowadays, they are fast growing family

patterns both within and outside Nigeria. Although there are no available

statistics of single parent families in Nigeria (Salami and Slawole), practical

experience and newspaper report show that, there is an increase of single parent

in Nigeria. In the western countries, there is a growing increase in the percentage

of adult and children living in single parent households (Nwachukwu, 1998).

Single-parents families have an average lower income than two-parents families

and are thus more constrained in ensuring adequate financial resources to meet

their children learning for their children (OECD / UNESCO, 2003). Such families

according to children's defense fund (19941) are faced with the challenges of

diminished financial resources. Assumptions of new roles and responsibilities.

Establishment of new patterns in intra - familial interaction and organization of

routines and schedules (Agulanna, 1999). These conditions are not conductive for

effective parenting. This is because when the single parents is overburdened by

responsibilities and by their own emotional reaction to their situation, they often

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become irritable, impatient and insensitive to their children's needs which may

affect children performance in school. (Nzewunwah1995).

Statement of the Problem

a subject of interest and concern, this has spurred the researcher into

investigating factors contributing to the challenges faced by children in single

parent household, this researcher will use this literature as a means to reach out

to the necessary people who can address this topic addressing this topic is

essential for developing targeted interventions and support system to promote

academic excellence o children from single parent household ,the researcher

wants this literature to get to the hands of every one the academic performance

of children is influenced by various factors, including family structure. Single

parenthood presents unique challenges that may impact a child's educational

outcomes. However, there is a need to systematically investigate the specific

ways in which single parenthood affects academic performance, including

potential mediators and moderators of this relationship. Understanding these

dynamics is essential for developing targeted interventions and support systems

to mitigate the negative effects of single parenthood on children's educational

success."

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Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of single-

parenthood on the academic performance of the child is to;

1. Understand how family structure impacts on the educational outcome.

2. Understanding family dynamics.

3. Identify challenges in single parent household.

Objectives of the Study

among secondary school students in Esan West Local Government Area, Edo

State.

2. To examine the influence on gender of single parent on the academic

performance of students.

Research Questions
The following research questions were raided for the purpose of this study:

1. Is there any significant difference between the academic performance of

students from single-parent homes and double-parent homes?

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2. Is there any significant difference in the challenges experienced by children

from single parent household in accessing and navigating the educational system?

3. Is there any significant difference in the effects of parental separation on the

academic achievement of male and female students?

Research Hypothesis
1. There is no significant difference between the academic performance of

students from single-parent homes and double parent homes.

2. There is no significant difference in the effect of parental separation on the

Academic performance of male and female students.

3. There is no significant difference in the challenges experienced by children

from single parent household in accessing and navigating the educational system.

Significance of study
The outcome of this study will benefit students, parents, teachers, educational

policy makers in the sense that, Research on the influence of single parenthood

on a child's academic performance can benefit various stakeholders

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Policy Maker: Policymakers can use research findings to develop evidence-based

policies aimed at supporting single-parent families and addressing educational

disparities. This could include initiatives such as access to affordable childcare,

parental support programs, and educational resources tailored to the needs of

single-parent households.

Educators: Teachers and school administrators can benefit from understanding

how family structure impacts student performance. This knowledge can help

them develop more inclusive teaching strategies and support systems to meet the

diverse needs of students from single-parent households, ultimately improving

educational outcomes for these children.

Single Parents: Single parents can benefit from research by gaining insights into

effective parenting practices that promote their children's academic success. This

includes strategies for fostering a positive learning environment at home,

communicating effectively with teachers, and accessing resources and support

services available within their communities.

Children: Research in this area ultimately benefits children by identifying factors

that may impact their academic performance and well-being. By understanding

these influences, parents, educators, and policymakers can work together to

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create supportive environments that enable all children, regardless of family

structure, to reach their full potential academically and socially.

Society: A better understanding of the relationship between single parenthood

and academic performance can help reduce stigma and misconceptions

surrounding single-parent families. This promotes a more inclusive and supportive

society that values the diverse experiences of all families and works towards

addressing systemic barriers to educational equity.Overall, research in this area

has the potential to inform policies, practices, and attitudes that support the

educational success and well-being of children growing up in single-parent

households.

Scope of the Study

Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. Ekpoma was chosen by the researcher

for this study due to residence of the researcher.

The selection was also influence by the fact that there are lots of

secondary schools; both private and public schools. Students from these

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institutions are coming from family structures which may be mono bi-parenting

and this will be a major source of data on effects of single parenthood on the

academic performance of secondary school students in Esan West.

Operational Definition of Keywords

thinks or behaves or on a way that something work or develops.

b. Single-parenting can be defined as a situation in which one of the two

individuals involved in the conception of the child is being responsible for the

upbringing of the child [Whitting and Child, (1993); Eshleman, (1981), and

Henslim (1983)]

c. Academic: Connected with education, especially studying in schools.

d. Performance: How well or badly one does something; how well or badly

something works.

c. Child: A young human being who is not yet an adult. That is someone who has

not reach 18years of age.

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