Influence of Single Parenting on Students’ Academic Performance in Some Selected Junior Secondary Schools in Gwagwalada Area Council of Fct

ABSTRACT This study is titled “Influence of Single Parenting on Students’ Academic Performance in Some Selected Junior Secondary Schools in Gwagwalada Area Council, of FCT. The purpose of the study was to investigate the causes of single parenting among students, find out the effects of single parenting on students’ motivation to learn, examine the effect of single parenting on students’ participation in the classroom, and find out the influence of single parenting on student’s academic performance. The research adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of the study consists of J.S.S.2 classes in public schools, in ten (10) selected junior secondary schools in GwagwaladaArea council. The sample size for this study was made up of 200 respondents selected from 10 junioe secondary schools in Gwagwalada Area Council. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire designed in line with research questions. Data collected were analyzed using frequency and table and mean score presented in tabular form. From the findings, it was discovered that death of one parent, teenage pregnancy, divorce, and separation are the causes of single parenting, single parenting has negative influence on students’ motivation to learn, participation in the class, and their academic performance. Some were made that teachers should study their students carefully to know the ones living with single parents so as to develop a means of attending to their weakness in academics. They should also communicate regularly with their pupil’s parents through PTA meetings and visitation to give parents tips on the better ways to bring up their students as a single parent, government should work harder to address the problem of poverty which is due to unemployment and other unfavorable economic situation in the country. This can help to reduce poverty of children from single parents and make enough money available to provide their children educational needs and so on.