THE EFFECT OF PARENTAL ACADEMIC BACKGROUND ON PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN MATHEMATICS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The goal of this study is to look at the impact of parental intellectual background on primary school students' academic achievement in mathematics (A case state of Ojo local Government). Some study hypotheses were developed in order to get a sound conclusion. In order to collect information about the parental academic background on primary school pupils' academic performance in mathematics, one hundred questionnaires were designed and distributed to pupils in primary school in the Ojo Local Government Educational District, and the researcher collected it immediately. The method used was a sample random procedure. However, authorities were provided answers regarding the parents, their parents' suitable measures in involvement and supporting educational needs, and the ministry of education should raise awareness on how parents may aid their children in mathematics and education. 

1.1  Background of the study

A family unit is a kid's first point of contact in life, and the quality of such a family unit has a significant influence on the developing child, reflecting on the child's personality and attitude in life. A family is characterized by links of marriage, blood, and adoption that form a single household interacting and communicating with one other in their different social roles of husband and wife, father and mother, brother and sister, and forming a shared culture. According to Collin lexicon (2003), one's social status, education or experience, incident or circumstances that assist to explain anything are all examples of parental background.

The average Nigerian child is hardworking, intelligent, and strives to succeed in school in order to achieve some level of self-fulfillment. The desire to succeed is biological in origin, but its intensity and direction can be greatly influenced by learning and parental background. 'He who has the youths has the future,' says Kari marx (1993), and this adage only goes to show how important youths play in the developmental processes of any nation. With the foregoing, it is difficult not to be saddened by the decadence and delinquency that has permeated this nation's youth.

Child education is critical, and their educational performance is influenced by their interactions with peers, parents, teachers, and the environment. Due to the economic downturn, some parents are finding it increasingly difficult to meet their children's basic needs; many have no time to devote to their children's upbringing.

According to Adekeye (2002), it is primarily through their efforts and ability that children become productive and effective in the area of mathematics. Parents possess the resources, skills, and also effectively apply them in raising their children.

According to the European Monitoring Union Report (2013), pupils whose parents have a high level of education/academic background perform significantly better on average in tests of sentence, reading, and mathematical abilities than those whose parents have only basic schooling.

In a family where both parents are educated, especially in the area of mathematics, their children are always well taken care of in their academic activities. They may go over their children's books after school, or even hire a mathematics teacher to teach them privately after school, and their academic performance will improve as a result.

In the case of the illiterate family, there is no need to supervise their children's books because they lack such. According to Atkinson and Feather (1996), successful parents tend to provide early mathematics training, which is necessary in the development of their children's academic performance. They also set high goals for their child and expect him or her to demonstrate competence in performing their task well. Parental illiteracy may have a detrimental impact on their children's academic success. Encouragement from home is something that children with illiterate parents appear to lack.

This suggests that some illiterate parents fail to supply their children with necessary mathematical textbooks in order to discourage the youngster from studying. According to David (2007), text books, particularly in mathematics, enhance study following traditional schooling. They also lack help due to their parents' illiteracy and ignorance; as a result, parents fail to inspire, reinforce, educate, or punish their children for poor academic performance, which may have influenced them to be serious about studying mathematics.

Literate parents, on the other hand, are more concerned with their children's academic achievement; they strive to supply necessary resources and provide enough encouragement. Knowing the value of education, they plan a feasible timetable for their children that includes many mathematical exercises, as well as arrange for a part-time instructor to teach and review their workbooks on a regular basis in order to boost the child's academic performance. Aside from the parent's educational experience, additional characteristics exist that might be favorable or negative and so predict pupils. performance in maths Mathematics educators and academics such as Oluche (1993), Ale (1995), Oshibodu (1996), and Akpan (1998) et al. have conducted studies over the years on the variables that contribute to low mathematics performance in elementary schools.

These issues include a lack of competent mathematics instructors, inadequate facilities, equipment, and instructional materials for successful teaching, and, if at all, teacher variables such as personal efficacy, competence, attitude, experience, and certification.

1.2 Statement of the problem

The purpose of this study was to discover how the academic success of parents affects or has an impact on the academic performance of primary school students in mathematics. Comments from educators have revealed that the blame for poor performance has been attributed to pupils' and parents' neglect and carefree attitude toward academic work. The first school of a child is the home, where he or she is taught the first basic norms and values by the parents before the child leaves for formal education. The household is where a child's mathematical foundation is established. To help the child's intellect, encouragement and necessary materials such as textbooks and video cassettes on mathematics should be provided.

1.3 Purpose of the study

The main purpose of this study is to examine the effect of parental academic background on primary school pupil’s academic performance in mathematics.

1. To achieve the above objective, the following specific objectives became guides:

2. Determine the extent to which parent level of education influences the academic performance of their children.

3. Determine the extent to which the occupation of parents also influences or affect the child’s academic performance

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions were generated

1. Does the economic status of parents have impact on the child’s academic performance?

2. Does the parent’s level of education have any impact on the academic performance of their children?

3. What is the effect of parent’s occupation on the academic performance of their children?

1.6 Significance of the study

This study would be crucial because it would give beneficial ideas that would assist parents, guardians, well-to-do persons in society, or the government in providing the necessary tools for students to ensure excellent academic achievement in mathematics in elementary schools.

1.7 Limitations of the study

This study is focused and centered on pupils academic performance in relation to their parent academic background specifically literature or illiterate. This study was limited in assessment of some randomly selected primary schools pupils in Ojo Local Government Area, Lagos state. The schools were:

1.8 Definition of operation terms

Parental: connected with a parent r parents; parental responsibility/ right. Parental choice in education.

Educational Background: An act of giving people useful knowledge or details that helps you to understand a situation.

Performance: that is the standard of success that someone or something achievers.

Family: this may be understood as a link between a husband and wife possibly with children living together under the same roof.

Parental background: this is a person’s family, level, experience, education, financial ability, events or circumstances that help to explain something.

Divorce: this is the lawful dissolution of marriage.

Academic achievement: this is taken to be the level of performance or students in a standardized examination that follows a course of instruction undergo by the learner.

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