SURVEY OF PARENTAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY STUDENTS IN MINNA METROPOLIS, NIGER STATE.

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of parental socio-economic background academic achievement of secondary school biology students in Minna Metropolis, Niger State. The study was further guided by the following research objectives: to identify the effects of parental socio-economic background on academic achievement of secondary school biology student and to identify the effect of socio-economic background on academic achievement of student in Minna Metropolis based on gender. A descriptive survey research design was adopted in this study. The sample of this study included;25 PTA members, 100 students and 4 principals in secondary school Minna Metropolis. In total, the sample size was 129. Questionnaires and interview guides were used as the main instruments of data collection. Data were coded into the computer with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Data was presented in tables. Qualitative approach was used to analyze the data retrieved from the interview guides. Data were analyzed by the mean and standard deviation and it was used to answer the two research questions posed for this study and 2.5 was chosen as criterion mean to either accept or reject the items from the questionnaire. The following recommendation was given: The Ministry of Education, school administrators and the local authorities need to come up with frequent community-based forums that are specifically structured towards enhancing parental participation in their children’s education. During these forums, the parents may be highlighted on the importance of education not only in the child development but also community growth. There is also need for policy formulation and implementation that encourage parents who have never attained any formal education to get the opportunity. These policies need to be introduced in Minna Metropolis Niger state and parents encouraged to enroll.