ABSTRACT: This research was on the Influence of Home Environment on Students Performance in English Language. It was conducted to specifically find out how parents educational status, socio-economic background as well as marital status with regard to the type of home among other factors can influence students academic performance in English language. The researcher adopted the simple experimental design for the study and formulated three (3) research questions were: how does parents’ educational background affect students’ academic performance in English language? To what extent does a home type influence academic performance of students in English language? To what extent does parents’ socio-economic background influence students performance in English language?
The population of the study was 60 students randomly selected from 2 secondary schools in Ika Local Government Area with each school contributing 30 students. The researcher divided the students into two groups, group ‘A’ and ‘B’, group ‘A’ was made up of students from broken homes, uneducated parents and parents with poor socio-economic background, while group ‘B’ was made up of students from educated parents whose parents stay together and with good socio-economic background. The researcher taught these two groups certain English language topics separately within a period of one month and later administered a simple English language test.
The Influence of Home Environment on Students Performance in English Language
The result of the test showed that students from divorce homes whose parents have no means of livelihood and whose parents are uneducated performed very poorly while students from educated parents with good socio-economic background and without divorce performed excellently well. Based on this, recommendations were made among which are that parents should enroll in adult and non-formal education centres for basic education which Ethical and Attitudinal Re-orientation Commission in Collaboration with relevant Agencies should mount enlightenment campaign to educate parents on the need to avoid divorce in their marriage.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Have you often wondered why children are so different in the way the speak and relate with others? The basis for some of the differences are to be found in genetic endowment and others in the environment so, the differences can be observed right from the time children are born, but as they grow older, the differences become more noticeable due to exposure to different environments. Every one who observes these differences develop a pet theory to explain them. Some talk about destiny, some about the influence of one or both parents and such other explanations.
This study will not talk on how destiny or inheritance affects students performance. The discussion will be focused on the influence of Home Environment on Students Performances in English Language in Secondary School.
In these era of scientific and technological development, the standard of academic achievement in schools have been a subject of great concern to everybody. While some people view that the standard is improving, some are disappointed in the students performances in English Language. It requires no documentation to confirm this assertion that, there is a general downward trend in the students performances in English Language especially in public examination, such as West African Examination Council (WAEC), NECO, GCE and others.
Many English Educators have conducted researches on the school characteristics that affect achievement like teacher education, curriculum, location of schools, and others, but little researches have been done on the effect of some environments that influence academic performance of students in school. This is why the researcher is conducting this research to determine the influence of home environment like parental educational level, divorce homes, parents’ interest for education of their children et cetera, on the achievement of students in English Language.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Poor academic performance in English Language among secondary school students has constituted a serious problem and has become a cause for concern to most parents in different ways. The internal and external examination result in the period between 2000 and 2005 made parents anxious to know the performance of their children even when results were not released. It frustrates both the students and the teachers. Students become frustrated because they cannot cope with their final examinations to meet their proposed career.
Government and school heads have been unable to provide adequate solution to the students’ poor academic performances. Parents have been partly blamed for failing to lay the right foundation in their children through informal education. This problem has contributed to the loss of reputation by affected higher institutions of learning in the era.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The Study aims at examining the influence of Home Environment on students’ performance in English language in Ika Local Government Area. Specially, the study is designed to:
(i) determine whether parental educational background can influence students academic achievement;
(ii) assess whether the parents socio-economic Status can influence students achievement in English Language;
(iii) determine whether homes type has any influence on academic achievement of students in English language.
The Influence of Home Environment on Students Performance in English Language
1.4 Significance of the Study
This work has varied significance. Mostly, it will bring to public awareness, the influence of some home environments on academic achievement of students in English Language. The study will determine whether home environment and English Language characteristics are relevant to students success in solving problems in English Language. The study will promote further research in this or related areas.
