INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF PARENTS ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the influence of socio-economic status of parents on the academic performance of secondary school students in Ogun state, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design of the ex-post facto type was adopted for the study. A total of 400 secondary school students were randomly selected from 10 sampled schools of both private and public schools in Obafemi Owode and Sagamu Local Government Areas in Ogun State. A self designed questionnaire was used to collect information (r=0.72). Pearson Product Moment Correlation and independent t-test were used to analyse the data obtained from the respondents at 0.05 probability level. Findings showed that there is a significant relationship between parents’ socio-economic status and students’ academic performance (r=0.106, p<0.05). It was also revealed that there is a low, positive and significant relationship between parental concern and academic performance of students in senior secondary school (r=0.258, p<0.05). A significant mean difference was also found between the academic performance of day and boarding students (t (df=398) =3.805, p<0.05). Therefore, it was recommended that government and other stakeholders in secondary education should design scholarship schemes to help the brilliant students from low and medium socio economic status. Parents and guardians should encourage their wards to have the right disposition to academic pursuit irrespective of their socio-economic background.