Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

1.1 Introduction

The responsibility of training a child always lies in the hand of the parents. This is

congruent with the common assertion sociologist that education can be an instrument of

cultural change which is being taught from home is relevant in this discuss. It is not out of

place to imagine that parental socio–economic background can have possible effects on the

academic achievement of children in school. Whatsoever affect the development environment

of children would possibly affect their education or disposition to it. Parental status is one of

such variables. When a woman’s nutritional status improves, so too does the statues of her

children (Lisa et al., 2003).

“Parents of different occupation classes often have different styles of child rearing,

different ways of disciplining their children and different ways of reacting to their children.

These differences do not express themselves consistently as expected in the case of every

family; rather they influence the average tendencies of families for different occupational

classes.” (Rothestein, 2004).

Associated from the above assertion, Hill et al. (2004) had exhorted that socio-

economic status of parents do not only affect the academic performance, but also makes it

possible for children from low background to compete well their counterparts from high

socio- economic background under the same academic environment.

Moreover, Smith, Fagan and Ulvund (2002) had guaranteed that significant predicator

of intellectual performance at age of 8 years included parental socio- economic status (SES).
In the same vein, other researchers had posited that parental SES could affect school children

as to bring about flexibility to adjustment to the different school schedules (Guerin et al.,

2001). In a previous local finding in Nigeria, Oni (2007) and Omoegun (2007) had averred

that there is significant difference between the rates of deviant bahaviour among students

from high and low socio- economic statuses.

The health status of the children which could also be traceable to parental socio-

economic background can be another factor that can affect the academic performance of the

students. Adewale (2002) had recorded that in a rural community where nutritional status is

relatively low and health problems are prevalent, children academic performance is greatly

hindered. This assertion is again hinged on nature of parental socio- economic background.

Furthermore, Eze (1996) had opined that when a child get proper nutrition, healthcare,

stimulation during pre- school years, the ability to interact with take optimal advantage of the

full complement of resources offered by any formal learning environment is enhanced.

The foregoing discussion had established that socio – economic status and host of

other factors relating to home environment of students, such as educational background of

parents, health status of students, parental occupation and family size could have effects on

children academic achievement.

In developing country like Nigeria, it has been reported on the influence of socio-

economic background on students’ academic performance in Nigerian Universities. Due to

high level of illiteracy, some Nigerian family view an undergraduate student in the university

as an adult that can fend himself and who should demand less of financial support from

his/her family.

In the Philippines, a progressive country with high rates of poverty and input deficit in

basic education, school dropout rates are high especially among the poor. In response to the
lack of parental involvement literature situated in the Philippine context, the present study

employed a phenomenological approach to explore and examine the experience of low

income parents regarding their involvement in their children’s education.

In Agusan del Sur, one of the richest island in Mindanao when it comes to natural

resources yet considered as the place that has difficulty in gaining money. Some students,

especially to those who are belong to the low class families want to complete their studies

with degree but find it impossible for there are a lot of hindrances particularly in terms of

their parents’ socio- economic status.

It is against this background that this work is being undertaken to empirically

investigate the possible effect of these factors on students’ academic achievement in selected

schools in the state. This study aims at investigating the possibility of parental socio–

economic background playing a significant role on students’ academic performance.

1.2 Conceptual Framework

Academic performance is a function of various variables. Such variables include time,

parental factors, government policy, behavior, conditions of study, teachers’ ability, etc.

However, this study focuses on those factors that are related to parental occupation which

affects students’ performance in school. Academic performance is due to the occupation of a

child’s parent. The independent variables for this study parental socio economic orientation

and parental level of education. The dependent variable on the other hand was students’

academic performance of Grade 12 students in Sta. Josefa National High School - Senior

High School.

The illustration of such performance in relation to the parents is illustrated below:

 Parental income
 Parental occupation and family
work culture
 Ability to provide food, digital
equipment’s, leisure etc. LEARNING MOTIVATION
 Availability of free time for
parents
 Number of meals consumed per
day

PARENTAL LEVEL OF EDUCATION

Figure 1.1 Conceptual Frameworks

1.3 Statement of the Problem

The central problem of this study is to determine the effects of parental occupation to

academic performance of the students. As a result, this study sought to investigate the extent

to which parents’ education, occupation and academic motivation of wards to determine the

academic achievements of Grade 12 Senior High School. Precisely, this study aims to answer

the following questions:

1. What is the academic performance of Grade 12 students?

2. What are the effects of parental occupation on the academic performance of Grade 12

students?
 3. How does parental involvement in education impact on the academic performance of

their students in Sta. Josefa Senior High School?

4. What will happen to the academic performance of students when their parents do not

have enough salary to support them?

1.4 Significance of the Study

It is important to determine the relative effects of parents’ occupation and academic

motivation of wards on students’ achievement in Senior High School. Aside from the

students and parents, this study will give benefits to many people in the society. The

beneficiaries and how they will benefit to the said study are the following:

STUDENTS- This study will help students to know the effects of their parents’ occupation on

their academic performance.

PARENTS- With this study, parents would be able to know the effects of their occupation to

the academic performance of their children.

TEACHERS- This study will give teachers awareness and better understanding on their

students’ situation. It also gives teachers aid to educate and guide students.

SCHOOL HEADS- This study will suggest implementation of awareness programs among

the effects of parents’ occupation to students’ academic performance.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION- This study will give the department an insight of

understanding the effects of parent’s occupation on student’s academic performance.

This study focuses on the effects of parental occupation of Grade 12 students of Sta.

Josefa National High school - Senior high School. It is limited on the participants who are the

151 Grade 12 students only and it will be conducted in Sta. Josefa Senior High School. This

study is dependent on the experience of the participants and what their answers to the

questions. Informants and participants have varying degrees of knowledge and experiences

with the effects of parental occupation on students’ academic performance. Therefore, It is

subjective. Since administrative permission is necessary to gain access to informants,

principals and advisers of the said participants will be informed of the study and its purpose.

However, the researchers acknowledge the weaknesses which may not allow this

research to achieve the expected generality of this study.

1.6 Definition of Terms

The following words below are the unfamiliar terms used in the study. This is to

provide sufficient information considering that all readers could understand the terminologies

used. This words and phrases are both defined operational and objective.

PARENTAL OCCUPATION- refers to the parent’s occupation of the student.

SOCIO- ECONOMIC STATUS- the economic and sociological work experience of the

student’s parents.

NUTRITIONAL STATUS- one of the factors that is affected by the socio- economic status

of a family.