Influence of Single Parenting on Moral Development and Academic Achievement Among Senior Secondary School Students in Nasarawa State

Abstract

This study examined the influence of single parenting on moral development and academic achievement among senior secondary school students in Nasarawa State. The research adopted a descriptive and expo-facto research design, the population of the study is 2,525 senior secondary school students spread across the three educational zone of Nasarawa State. A sample size of 253 students was selected for the study through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Five research questions were raised to guide the study. A questionnaire consisting 6 items and BECE result was used as instrument for data collection. The reliability of the instrument was calculated using Split-half. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient (PPMC) was adopted to determine the reliability of the instrument. The result of the pilot test produced an index value of 0.78. Percentages, frequency counts, mean scores and standard deviation were used to analyze demographical data and research questions, while t-test was employed in testing the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The research discovered that, lacks of respect for teachers among others are the major influence of single parenting on moral development among senior secondary school students. Low self-esteem among others was the major influence of single parenting on academic achievement among senior secondary school students. The study recommended among others that, parents, teachers and counsellor should intensify efforts towards helping the students who are at the receiving ends overcome the influence of single parenting on students’ academic achievement.

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