ABSTRACT: The study investigated Family Factors on the Academic Performance of Pupils in Christian Religious Knowledge. Research hypotheses where postulated and tested to achieve the objectives of the study, the study was quasi-experimental design using parental educational level, parents income level, questionnaire and Christian Religious Knowledge Performance Test (CRKPT) to collect relevant data. The sample of the study comprised of 90 primary pupils drawn from three (3) randomly selected schools from the study area. The data collected were analyzed using simple t-test. The results presented in chapter four (4) on tables indicated that the parental educational level exerted significant influence on the academic performance of primary school pupils considering their scores in the Christian Religious Knowledge performance test used in the study. Parent’s income level also showed significant relationship.
It was concluded that pupils from high educational background perform better in Christian Religious Knowledge performance test used in the study than pupils from low or poorly educated background and also the higher the income level of parents, the higher the level of academic performance of pupils. Based on the findings, it was recommended that parents should encourage their children to excel academically by being interested in their academic growth and providing the necessary learning materials required in school.
Family Factors on the Academic Performance of Pupils in Christian Religious Knowledge
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Education, in its broadest sense, is a process designed to inculcate knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to enable individuals to cope effectively with their environment. Its primary purpose is to foster and promote the fullest individual self-realization for all people. It is indispensable to normal living, without education the individual would be unqualified for group life, Aremu (2010); education is the process of developing the capacities and potentials of the individuals as to prepare that individual to be successful in a specific society or culture.
Notably, it is often said to be the powerful tool for developing intellectual abilities, shaping cultural attributes, acquiring knowledge and skills as well as a favourable tool to move a nation towards developing it scientific and technological culture. Achieving this goal requires understanding of commitment to the proposition that education is a primary instrument for social and economic advancement of human welfare (Verma, 2009). From this perspective, education is serving primarily as an individual development function.
Academic performance refers to the level of performance in school, accomplishment or success in school”. However, academic performance is the core of educational growth (Aremu & Oluwole, 2011). Jansen (2014) defined academic performance as the process of developing the capacities and potentials of the individual pupil so as to prepare that individual to be successful in a specific society or culture. From this perspective, education is serving primarily as an individual development functions. It is important to keep in mind that academic performance may largely be a function of the context in which it takes place, and therefore the necessary abilities may also vary according to the context. In this regard it may be concluded that the concept, meaning and criteria of academic success may also vary according to the context in which it is found.
The educational system is vital for every country in the world and Nigeria is no exception; a strong and effective education system can help boost the development of any country, as academic performance in Nigeria most especially at the primary level has been largely associated with many factors in literature. These include; school environment, lack of learning resources as well as family factors (Adeagbe, 2014; Aremu & Oluwole, 2011). Padilla & Gonzalez (2011) and Aremu & Sokan (2013) also reported tremendous academic failures among pupils and some have tried to find the reasons behind the alarming rate of failures. Thus, the problem of under-performance of pupils’ at school has a long history in educational psychological research.
Consequently, improving pupil academic performance had long been an extremely complicated and vexing problem for school systems and education policy makers. Among the many efforts aimed to improve pupil’s performance are two quite different approaches, each with deep historical roots. The prevalence of poor academic performance seems to have increased over the last two decades been estimated at close to 11.3% in a general school population (Burtless, 2009). In Nigeria, the estimation of the intensity of under-performance is clear as many inhibitory factors may be involved, as it is observed that the level of academic under-performance is influenced by the presence of other academic inhibitory factors. This is because being successful in academics could be consequent on being regular and doing assignments on time.
Family Factors on the Academic Performance of Pupils in Christian Religious Knowledge
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The importance of education has a long lasting impact on one’s life. For instance, the acquisition of knowledge and skills and all other all things that is worthwhile which are transmitted to a person through formal and informal education determines his or her potential in future. Several studies have been conducted to determine the influence of family factors on the academic performance of pupils in Christian religious Knowledge.
Basically, we understand that family is the first school for a child where he or she is taught the basic morals, norms and values by parents before the child leaves for the formal education. Contrary to popular opinion, learning begins in school but the first foundation of the child’s moral life begins in the family Ekong (2013). The complain about the immoral life and failure in Christian Religious Knowledge among primary school pupils in internal and external examination in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has become complex in the state.
This therefore motivated the researcher to investigate the extent to which family factors in the family such as family structure, interpersonal relationship, materials available, parental educational level, income level, family atmosphere and parental discipline influence pupils academic performance in Christian Religious Knowledge in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
