EFFECTS OF CHILD ABUSE ON THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF STUDENTS OF SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS

EFFECTS OF CHILD ABUSE ON THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF STUDENTS OF SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Background of the Study

The joy of giving birth to children and helping them flourish to the point where they may realize their full potential in life is something that all parents experience. On the other hand, when children are not provided with the appropriate level of care by their parents or other caretakers, such young people are frequently exposed to a number of behaviors that hinder their ability to achieve their goals in life. A significant number of the children are exposed to instances of maltreatment or abuse on a regular basis at the hands of their parents, caretakers, and various other members of the communities in which they live. The names Shonk and Cicchetti (2001). As a result, the practice of child abuse refers to situations in which adults mistreat, attack, or otherwise deprive children of vital necessities in settings such as the home, the street, religious buildings, or schools. Abuse of children may result in severe physical, psychological, and sexual harm, as well as in the child's premature death. Poverty, a lack of parental attention, unemployment, marital discord, and polygamous families are some of the factors that contribute to its prevalence. Victims of child abuse, whether they are male or female, experience agony as a result. Child abuse may be caused by a variety of factors, including harmful acts on the part of children's teachers, parents, classmates, guardians, siblings, so-called mentors, and society in general (Chalk, Gibbons, & Scarupa 2002). As a child, the abuse of children is not an unusual occurrence in Nigeria. Because it is everywhere, there is nowhere left where children can be protected from it.

According to research conducted by Chalk, Gibbons, and Scarupa (2002), the physical, psychological, and behavioral development of a child is negatively impacted when the child is subjected to maltreatment. However, in the context of the actual world, it is hard to dispute each of them independently. There is a correlation between having psychological symptoms and having a physical problem, such as when a child loses part of their developing brain (for example delay in cognitive development). The psychological effects almost often take the shape of high-risk behaviors, which may have a detrimental effect not only on the academic performance of the abused child but also, in the long run, on the economy. In addition, Shonk and Cicchetti (2001) supported evidence to support this theory in their research. They discovered that maltreated children often have poor academic school and do not thrive in society, both of which have a negative impact on the economy. Using a sample of 200 teachers, Alokan and Olatunji (2014) investigated the relationship between child maltreatment and children's ability to concentrate in class and achieve academic success in Nigeria. They found a positive association between the two variables. Because of this, children who are subjected to abuse are unable to focus in class, which has a significant negative impact on the economy of Nigeria. In addition, Umobong (2010) noted that the maltreatment of children is increasingly widespread in schools, which has a detrimental impact on the intellectual development of children as well as the economy, especially in regions where there is a lack of child. In addition, Gaudin (1999) found that children who were neglected or abused had a lower average IQ than children who were not neglected or abused. Since of this, the economy suffers, as a consequence, because children who have been abused are unable to make significant contributions to the economy.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The rising number of students and learners, in addition to those who are not enrolled in school, who are engaged in hawking and selling products on the nation's streets and on school grounds is a reason for concern that calls for appropriate action to be taken (Alokan & Olatunji 2014). The bulk of the children have the appearance of being malnourished and sick, and some of them are wincing in agony as a result of having been tortured and beaten by the adults. Many of these children leave school as early as primary school to engage in prostitution or street begging, while others are employed as house helps or in other menial jobs to help support their parents. The majority of these parents are interested in what the child can bring to the family through sells (hawking goods) or giving oneself for money (Edo, 2016). As a consequence of this, the child's academic performance declines, and the child's moral and social development is not supported by the education. This attracted the researcher's interest in investigating the effect that child abuse has on academic attainment in Nigeria, particularly in the state of Yobe.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The primary objective of this study is to examine the effect of child abuse on students academic achievement. Specifically but not limited to, other objectives of this study are:

1. To examine the prevalence of child abuse in Nigeria.
2. To expatiate the causes of child abuse in Nigeria.
3. To investigate the effect of emotional abuse on students academic achievement.
4. To find out the effect of physical abuse on students academic achievement.
5. To ascertain the effect of child neglect on students academic achievement.

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions will be answered in this study:

1. Is child abuse prevalent in Nigeria?
2. Does emotional abuse have an effect on students academic achievement in secondary school?
3. Does physical abuse have an effect on students academic achievement in secondary school?
4. Does child neglect have an effect on students academic achievement in secondary school?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

The study will validate the following assumptions;

H01: There is no significant relationship between emotional abuse and students academic achievement in secondary school.

H02: There is no significant relationship between physical abuse and students academic achievement in secondary school.

H03: There is no significant relationship between child neglect and students academic achievement in secondary school.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The various organizations have continued to emphasize the need to stop child abuse and abuse but it seems almost impossible.

The findings from this study will contribute to a broader efforts most effectively targeted on the work that is damaging to the children’s education or academic development. It is to show the extent to which child abuse affects the children’s school attendance and their academic performance.

Finally, this study will go further in helping researchers with more information on the effects of social media on student’s academic performance.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study will focus on examining the impact of child abuse on students academic achievement. Specifically, it will focus on examining the prevalence of child abuse in Nigeria, determining if child abuse has an influence student’s academic performance, examining the effects of child abuse on the academic performance of students and examining ways the scourge of child abuse can be mitigated in Nigeria.

Teachers and students of selected secondary schools in Damaturu, Yobe State will serve as participants for the survey of this study.

1.8 Limitations of the Study

This study will be limited to examining the impact of child abuse on students academic achievement. Specifically, it will be limited to examining the prevalence of child abuse in Nigeria, determining if child abuse has an influence student’s academic performance, examining the effects of child abuse on the academic performance of students and examining ways the scourge of child abuse can be mitigated in Nigeria.

Teachers and students of selected secondary schools in Damaturu, Yobe State will serve as participants for the survey of this study, thus the sample size was limited because only a few respondents were chosen to answer the research instrument, therefore the results cannot be generalized to other secondary schools outside the state.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Impact:

A marked effect or influence.

Child Abuse:

Physical, sexual, or emotional ill-treatment or neglect of a child, especially by those responsible for its welfare

Academic Achievement:

According to “Wikipedia” Academic performance or “academic achievement” is the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has attained their short or long-term educational goals. Completion of educational benchmarks such as secondary school diplomas and bachelor’s degrees represent academic achievement. Academic performance also means the knowledge and skills that students have mastered in a subject or a course. It’s basically a measure of how well students have performed in the various assessment items set for them based on some educational criteria determined by professional educators.

1.10 Organization of the Study

The study is categorized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions and hypothesis, the significance of the study, scope/limitations of the study, and definition of terms. The chapter two covers the  review of literature with emphasis on conceptual framework, theoretical framework, and empirical review. Likewise, the chapter three which is the research methodology, specifically covers the research design, population of the study,  sample size determination,  sample size, abnd selection technique and procedure, research instrument and administration, method of data collection, method of data analysis, validity and reliability of the study, and ethical consideration. The second to last chapter being the chapter four presents the data presentation and analysis, while the last chapter(chapter five) contains the summary, conclusion and recommendation.

 

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