CHAPTER ONE

1.0     INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

All over the world, and in Nigeria to be specific, education is accorded a pride of a place because it is the means through which the culture of different societies is passed down through succeeding generations. 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 children’s educational aspirations.

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 parenthood is negatively associated with children’s education. Although single parenthood is negatively associated with children’s educational outcomes in most western countries, recently comparative studies shows 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 in West African. During the decade, however, Nigeria has experienced a rapid increase in divorce, which makes it important to examine the effect of single parenthood and its impacts on children’s education and well-being.

This study examines how children of single parent families fare in their educational outcomes in Nigeria. The relationship between single parenthood and children’s education may vary across societies depending on broad family and other social structures surrounding single parenthood. Examine relationships between family structure and children’s education in Nigeria; one of “strong family” countries in which the share of single-parent families has recently risen, may contribute to the extended understanding of the implication of rapid family change for children’s well-being in a context where the welfare of family members has primarily relied on family ties.

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 way influence pupils achievement in the school. Therefore, this study seeks to provide empirical evidence on the influence of single parenthood on the achievement of school pupils in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State.  

1.3     PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purposes of the study are:

i.                    To link the research work with the work of renowned authors and scholars which are relevant to this exercise.

ii.                  To highlight the effect of single-parenthood on children’s educational aspiration.

iii.                To highlight the heterogeneity among single-parent families.

iv.                To identify and discuss the types of single-parent families.

1.4     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It’s expected that result obtained from this study apart from identifying the effect of single-parenthood on student’s educational aspiration. It will also be of great value to curriculum planners and teachers.

This study is also expected to draw the attention of educators, parents and government to the need for single parent reduction through a decrease in divorce rate and increase in household income. It will also be relevant to students’ researchers and scholar who wish to write on related topics.

1.5     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

i.                    To what extent does divorced single-father families affect the children’s educational outcomes?

ii.                  Does widowed single-father families affect the children’s educational outcomes?

iii.                To what extent does divorced single-mother families affect the children’s educational outcomes?

iv.                Does widowed single-mother families affect the children’s educational outcomes?

v.                  What is the difference in the educational aspiration between children from two-parent families and those from single-parent families?

1.6     LIMITATION OF THE STUDY 

This research work was carried out within Abeokuta North Local Government Area. The subjects of the study were limited to public primary schools only.

1.7     OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS OF TERM 

Single parenthood: Is a situation whereby one of the parents is no longer in union that produced the child.

School: Is a place where teaching and learning take place.

Effect: Is a change that something/somebody else.

Student: Is a person that is studying at a university or colleges.