EFFECTS OF HOME BACKGROUND ON THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SOKOTO STATE

Abstract

This study examined the effects of home background on the academic achievements of secondary school students in Sokoto State. It specifically examined the factors and influence on child performance, the efficacy of a family influence for academic success, socio-economic status of parents, the relationship between home background factors and academic achievements. The research design was based on the main tenets of correlational survey design. The sample of the study comprised of 195 secondary schools with a population of 2.066 Students in the three senatorial districts of Sokoto Suite. The Hart Draw Method (HDM) was used in selecting two schools from each zone. Four hypotheses were tested for the study. The data collected for this study were subjected to chi-square tests. The findings revealed that the socio-economic status of the child's home is one of the important predictors of academic achievements in school. It was also observed that parenting styles have been associated with academic success. The following recommendations were made the need to educate parents on the need to create an educationally conducive atmosphere at home, children must be encouraged and not be left to the teacher alone, educators as well student-teacher who are responsible for the education of the future generations should understand what factors influence the learning and achievements of children placed in their care, while parents should provide their children with needed school materials to stimulate intellectual development, to handle students effectively teachers should endeavour to understand their students family background. Authoritarian and permissive methods of parenting styles should be discouraged amongst parents