EFFECTS OF POLYGAMY ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS

ABSTRACT

This research sought to find out the extent to which polygamy affects the students in their academic performance in Osogbo Local Government Area. The researcher employed the descriptive survey design method. Data was collected through the use of questionnaires for students and for teachers and an interview schedule for School Heads and Senior teachers. The population was made up of five secondary schools in Osogbo Local Government Area of Osun state. The sample comprised of thirty students, (six students from each school), twenty-five teachers, (five teachers from each school) as well as the school heads and Senior teachers. Snowballing and random sampling were used as the sampling techniques. The study established that polygamy does influence students’ academic performance to some extent. The elements of what could negatively or positively influence the academic performances of students but it was found out that negative effect of polygamy were more than positive effect. Family relationships, financial position of the family, availability and non-availability of school resources, academic level of parents and family size are among the factors that influenced the academic performance of students from polygamous families. The study recommends that teachers should have a good knowledge of students’ background so as to address students according to their needs. In addition to that, school heads should make school policies and put binding measures to parents who do not attend consultation days. Students constantly need to be counseled so as not to lose focus due to family issues and therefore placement of qualified counselors in schools is recommended. In areas where cash flow is seasonal, heads of schools and SDC, should capitalize on the season when the cashflow will be high and make parents pay the yearly fees and buy all the school requirements for the year. Parents and the school heads should work together so as to help the students achieve their academic goals.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Many studies have identified study habits, Students’ self-concept, teachers’ qualifications, teaching methods, school environment, family size and government as factors influencing Students’ academic performance (Edwa 2002, Zsolnai 2002, Gonzalez & Pieda 2002, Arumu & Sokan 2003, Asikhia (20 10).

The effect of polygamy on Students’ academic performance has not been given adequate attention in research. The present study sought to answer the question: Does polygamy influence the academic performance of students in Osogbo Local Government Area. Studies carried out in Oromia by Feda (2008) established that family size, family type and birth order are among many household characteristics considered both in developing and developed countries as determinants of child schooling performance. Feda (2008) asserts that the early empirical findings from developed countries consistently confirmed the trade-off between family size and child educational achievement. This confirms that big family size and family type exert a negative effect on students’ schooling due to the dilution effect in developing countries. There is clear consensus on the effects of family size and family type on students’ academic performance, although a good deal of literature suggests a positive relationship, while others have argued that there is an ambiguous effect (Parfait and Williams 2005).

In my point of view, family size can be determined by family type. Big family sizes are generally linked to polygamy today. The secondary environment of the Student is the home and it stands to exert a tremendous impact on Students’ achievement (Hoover-Dempsey 2005, Redding 2006). Moreover, the home is the secondary agent of education in the child (Nyarko 2010). Akolomolafe (2011) shares the view that the type of family system the child is exposed to could influence his or her academic performances in school.