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EFFECT OF FAMILY BACKGROUND VARIABLES ON SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN BIOLOGY

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Education is a basic tool used by society for transmission of its societal values. It has become an area of prime importance not only for government or voluntary agencies but also for individuals, families, Governments and communities. Voluntary agencies and individuals are committing a lot of resources in order to achieve success in the educational enterprise (Orhungur, 1990).

Awoniyo (1991) put it that the government believes that the greatest investment of a nation should be in her people. The greatness of any nation depends on the genius, qualities, attitudes and aspirations of her people and it cannot expect to be ignorant and free at the same time.

Many factors and reasons have been given as being responsible for the continuous falling in the academic standard of our present educational system. These include; attitudes of teachers to work, lack of seriousness on the part of the students, effect of the dwindled economy and to some extent the increasing degenerating moral system. Despite all possible efforts put forward by various governments and voluntary agencies to curb these trends, the country is yet to witness the rise it desires to see in the educational system.

The saddest irony of it all is that we have all the teaching facilities and equipment with modern infrastructures, more qualified and experienced teachers now than we had in the past, more improved effective teaching methods and strategies and all the facilities as well as basic amenities one could need foe effective learning. The worry then was, why is education falling continuously in the system today?

The researchers’ interest and motivation in this topic is the fact that some students are exceptionally good in their work, while some extremely bad. When such variations in scores are traced it is more often discovered that family background is a major contributory factor. It is therefore important that the levels of such contributions and the influence they have on children be examined so that useful suggestions to parents, teachers, educational planners and government could be made.

Orhungur (1990) asserts that the cultural background of the family is determined to a large extent by its socio-economic background. As the child grows up and moves out to the interest of wider society his/her interaction with it and perception of it are largely determined from her earlier experiences at home. The family setting and its socializing influence mold the personality of the child. Nigeria, for instance, is a society with diverse ethnic groups with various cultural backgrounds in areas like family size, occupation and in extreme cases, religion. These factors pose their own restrictions on educational upbringing of children. The social sitting or mode of settlement of the family and extended family system may equally influence the academic performance of a child and by extension, their educational upbringing.

Motivation is most needed in order to perform more efficiently in their area of endeavor. When certain factors are eminent in a child’s family background, it is clear that the child will be motivated and driven towards a high academic goal.

Denga (1986) in Eyake (1997) advised that praises, incentives, recommendations and other forms of reward system should be employed as motivational factors to stimulate students to higher achievements. It is likely that the much a child achieves during his school days is largely dependent on the kind of family to which he/ she belongs. For instance, a child whose parents take a great deal of interest in what he/ she does at school and give him / her necessary support by providing all the required books and finances needed has a great advantage over a child whose parents do not give him this kind of incentives and encouragement.

More so, students’ attitudes to learning and educational performances are shaped by the kind of stimuli offered to them by their various environments. This can be considered in terms of the type of family, the home, parental social orientation, educational level, occupation to mention but a few. It is therefore, evident that students’ performance is contingent on the stimulus the home offers.

Educational upbringing is not unconnected with the family influence of a child. Individual members of the family serve as a model to the child as he/ she copies from each of them. Eyake (1997) quoted. Adeyeme (1977) ‘if the house fails to provide the child with the necessary equipment to fit him/ her into his proper place in the society and guided properly for his/ her future career, then the child is damaged’. An analysis of the percentage of secondary school dropouts today entails that such students are usually from broken homes, wiring polygamous families or with other socially related problems.

The agrarian and large families have accounted for the polygamous life of people. The larger the size of the family, the more economic and other social responsibilities the parents bring upon themselves. And more often than not, the educational performance of students from such families suffers serious setbacks. This is because such parents might not be able to afford the cost of funding education for their children.

Other factors may affect the education performance of students like separation on grounds of different working stations, divorce or even natural death can bring adverse effects on the growth and development of a child.

Furthermore, the economic position of parents is one of the major factors that can greatly influence the educational upbringing of a child. In most families, either or none of parents may be earning income sufficient enough to sustain the family, faced with malnutrition and other emotional and psychological effects, the mental development of the child  would be greatly retarded. Orhunger (1990) adds that a low income family with plenty of feeding problems may produce children whose physical and mental development poses real challenges to the schools effort at optimum development of the child.

This research work is therefore intended to explore the degree to which these factors influence the educational performance of students with a view to making useful suggestions that would help in checking the system.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Despite the recognized importance of academic achievement in biology for secondary school students, there remains a gap in understanding how various family background variables impact this achievement. While previous research has identified family background as a significant factor influencing academic success, there is limited specific investigation into how variables such as parental socioeconomic status, educational attainment, and family size specifically affect students' performance in biology. Therefore, this study seeks to address this gap by examining the relationship between family background variables and secondary school students' academic achievement in biology, thus providing insights into potential areas for intervention and support to enhance students' educational outcomes in this subject.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objective of this study is to determine the effect of family background variables on secondary school students’ academic achievement in biology

Specific objectives include;

1. To explore the impact of family background on students' educational performance.

2. To investigate the relationship between parents' socioeconomic status and their children's academic achievement in secondary school.

3. To examine the correlation between parents' educational attainment and their children's academic performance in secondary school.

4. To assess the influence of family size on the educational upbringing of secondary school students.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. How does family background affect students' educational performance?

2. What is the relationship between parents' socioeconomic status and their children's academic achievement in secondary school?

3. How does parents' educational attainment correlate with their children's academic performance in secondary school?

4. What impact does family size have on the educational upbringing of secondary school students?

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

H1: There is a significant relationship between family background and students' educational performance.

H2: Parents' socioeconomic status significantly influences their children's academic achievement in secondary school.

H3: There is a positive correlation between parents' educational attainment and their children's academic performance in secondary school.

H4: Family size has a significant impact on the educational upbringing of secondary school students.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Understanding how family background influences students' academic performance can inform targeted interventions to support students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. By identifying the specific family factors that impact biology achievement, such as parental education level, socio-economic status, and family size, educators can implement tailored strategies to mitigate disparities in academic outcomes. Additionally, this research can contribute to the development of more inclusive educational policies and practices that foster equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their family backgrounds. Ultimately, the findings of this study can pave the way for a more equitable and effective educational system in Nasarawa State, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to excel in biology and beyond.

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study encompasses secondary school students studying biology in Nasarawa State, Focusing specifically on the influence of various family background variables on their academic achievement. These variables may include parental education level, socio-economic status, and family size. The study aims to explore the relationship between these family background factors and students' performance in biology, providing insights into potential disparities and areas for intervention. It will involve data collection from a representative sample of secondary schools in Nasarawa State, utilizing quantitative research methods to analyze the correlations between family background variables and academic achievement in biology. The study will not delve into other subjects or aspects of students' academic performance beyond the scope of biology and the identified family background variables.

1.8 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Several limitations may affect the study's findings. Firstly, the study's scope is limited to secondary school students in Nasarawa State, which may restrict generalizability to other regions. Secondly, the reliance on self-reported data from students and possibly incomplete or inaccurate information from school records could introduce measurement errors. Additionally, external factors such as students' health, extracurricular activities, or personal circumstances are not accounted for, potentially impacting academic achievement. Lastly, the cross-sectional nature of the study limits causal inference, as it cannot capture longitudinal effects or establish causality between family background variables and academic achievement in biology. 

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. Family Background: The socio-economic, cultural, and demographic characteristics of a student's family, including parental education level, occupation, income, family structure, and size.

2. Academic Achievement: The level of success or proficiency attained by a student in their academic endeavors, typically measured through grades, standardized test scores, or other academic assessments.

3. Secondary School: Also known as high school, it refers to the educational institution attended by students typically between the ages of 11 to 18, providing education beyond primary or elementary school and preceding higher education.

4. Biology: The scientific study of living organisms and their interactions with the environment, encompassing various disciplines such as genetics, physiology, ecology, and evolution.

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