ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to establish the Influence of Child Abuse on Children Academic Development in Primary Schools. The research questions and research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The dependable variables viz: child labour, sexual abuse and physical abuse were investigated as function of student’s interest and attitude towards academic programmes and attitude in schools. Data were generated using questionnaires and were subjected to statistical instruments such as Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation and Independent t-test. The findings of the study indicates that child labour, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse as well social neglect all have a significant influence over students’ attitude to academic programmes.
Influence of Child Abuse on Children Academic Development in Primary Schools
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The traditional African society has always placed a high premium on children. Other extended family members and even the whole community are noted to record several rituals and sacrifices to their ancestors if children are not forthcoming; after consummation of their ancestors if children are highly valued.
Yet, in spite of the high value placed upon children, it is not uncommon to state that several children are placed on conditions that obviously limit their growth and development. Some are maltreated so much that the development of their talents is not only delayed but destroyed completely. Even in a family circle when a rusty relationship is allowed to degenerate into an abuse, then there is much to worry about. Bukoye (2004) observed that maltreatment of children is hardly a new phenomenon. It dated back to the colonial times and even back to biblical times. During the recent years, child maltreatment has had an increase in the public eyes and has its turn in various dimension or categories.
According to Isamahand Okunola (2002), maltreatment of children now popularly recognized as child abuse include physical abuse, sexual abuse, a- neglect, emotional abuse as well as gender discrimination. Each category, in turn, covers a range of behaviour. The maltreatment of children not only affects the children themselves but also affects the family in terms of making it dysfunctional. Child abuse is a social problem that affects a million o children each year. Not only does child abuse has multiple societal repercussions, but can also be deduced that child abuse is the intentional omission of care or even killed.
A child is abused if a recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caregiver leads to physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation or any act or failure to act which involves imminent risk of serious harm (Khatris, 2004) child abuse also cover failure to provide for the child’s basic needs. This is so because the child is highly dependent on an adult, so a failure to provide for his/her needs results in serious harm.
Any form of child abuse is detrimental to the overall development of the child. The effect may vary in degree or the seriousness of the problem and the difficulties it causes depending upon such factors as:
- i) Age of the abused child even killed.
- ii) The duration of the abuse
iii) The abusive person.
- iv) The ability of the abused child to share his/her experiences
- v) The abused child’s social environment
- vi) Whether the abuse involves physical, humiliation or violence.
(vii) The cultural context of the abuse
Factors that influence the outcome of any abuse
are complex and varied. These factors have attendant consequences upon children physically, societal and psychologically. Some are more devastating than others. Some children, in the end, may suffer trauma which builds up negative impact upon their educational pursuit. Against this backdrop, it, therefore, becomes crucial to look into the influence of child abuse on the academic development of children.
Influence of Child Abuse on Children Academic Development in Primary Schools
1.2 Statement of the Problem
In Nigeria in particular, child abuse is commonly expressed in form of either child labour or excessive corporal punishment in the name of discipline. In another dimension, many children are compelled to wake up as early as 3 0’clock in the morning to do all sorts of domestic chores such as fetching water, processing wares for the market, street hawking even during school hours. These are crimes against children and humanity in general.
Children are misused daily, in spite of the free and compulsory education embarked upon by Akwa Ibom State Government. It is ugly to observe that many children still resort to stay with their “uncles” in town where they persistently engaged in street trading, manual labour in a bid to generate income to such families. Many of them do experience child abuse a develop pet aversion towards education and learning in particular. These children are noted for a high degree
of truancy and poor study habits. It indeed pertinent to infer that children who are victims of abuse may, in turn, affect such maltreatment if a chance arises in the near future thereby continuing the circle of child abuse.
Growth and development of an individual starts from the foetus through infancy to childhood and finally to adulthood. If the foundation for growth and development is not properly laid, there is retardation and the child may be frustrated and loose direction.
The problem of this study is therefore to suit of broken home. Many are deprived of food, thing and care. They generally have a bleak future abuse investigate the influence of child abuse on the educational development of children.
