The impact of parenthood and birth order on the academic achievement of pupils in Abeokuta South Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria
Department of Educational, Foundations and Management Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria; Department of Sociological Studies, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Nigeria
Edun, T., Department of Educational, Foundations and Management Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria; Oguntola, S., Department of Sociological Studies, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Nigeria
The study sought to determine the impact of parenthood and birth order on the academic achievement of primary school pupils in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. The sample consisted of 250 primary six pupils selected through a stratified random sampling technique from five primary schools in the Local Government Area. Data were collected through a Demographic Questionnaire and an Achievement Test. Descriptive Statistics and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to analyse collected data. Findings revealed that there was no significant difference in the academic achievement of pupils with both parents, single parents and no parents (Fc2,228= 1.135, P>0.05), just as there was no significant difference in the academic achievement of 'first borns' 'middle borns' and 'last borns' (Fc2,229= 1.715, P>0.05). The findings were consistent with similar findings in Africa and developing nations generally that school factors were far more important than family factors in determining school achievement. The implications of these findings for the school and the family, and the interventions required were discussed.