CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Time has really changed many of the old customs and traditions which were taught and practised for several years are becoming obsolete now. The modern culture has changed and outgrown the values and beliefs that were thought to be the core beliefs and values of our society. Even though, moralists and conservatives are experiencing disgust over the currently evolving belief and cultural systems. The truth is, what has been unacceptable in the olden days, is now becoming fast and rapidly rising trends. For decades and even centuries, one of the major concerning issues to the conservatives, is the issue of single-parenting. Single-parenting is already becoming a fast and rapidly growing trend in the society.

In Ghana, the parental roles are culturally determined. Maternal role is that of childcare and home making while the paternal role is that of economic responsibilities and discipline of children. Generally, it is the responsibility of the family, to train and bring up the child in the norms and values of the society. They are to be responsible for the psychological and emotional welfare of the child. The parents are mainly responsible for the educational and career development of their children. However, divorce and separation of various kinds or death of one spouse may leave the roles in the hands of a single parent.

The family structure, ideally, provides a sense of security and stability that is necessary for children. When there is a breakdown in the family structure, it may have a tremendous impact on a child and their ability to function ordinarily or achieve academically. In most situations, the child no longer has two parents to depend on.   Therefore they have to rely on one parent to meet most, if not all their needs.   With limited finances, time and availability parents are less likely to provide the adequate support a child needs to perform to the best of their ability. This is not to say, necessarily, that the parent raising them is not providing them with more than adequate love and attention, but rather the single parent model within itself is comprised of many different factors that can affect a child’s level of truancy and academic success.

In the Cape Coast Metropolis there are lots of factors that cause students from single parent homes to perform poorly in academics and pick up truant lifestyles and they include the following, emotional scarring left by separation that disrupts the child’s development and performance, absence of the other adult may interrupt a child’s natural growth and mental development, the children may be inadvertently forced to take on the duties of the absent adult, limited time and income become an issue as in how much time is focused on homework or whether money is spent to enjoy cultural activities and educational goals and aspirations may not be set as high.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The main problem for this study is that a lot of people, educationists and counsellors are complaining on non-chalant attitude of students to study and attendance to classes. Reports and observations on students from different family structure and family composition are indicators to academic performance.

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1.3 Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to find out the influence of family patterns on the academic performance and truancy of secondary school students. The study also wants to know the effects of single-parenting on the academic achievement and if it causes truancy in the students of secondary schools.

1.4 Objectives of the Study

1. To investigate the effects of single-parenting on the academic performance and truancy behaviour among secondary school students in the cape coast metropolis
2. Find out the relationship between single-parenting on academic performance and truancy behaviour among secondary school students in the cape coast metropolis.
3. To examine the effects of single-parents involvement with their children on academic performance and truancy behaviour

1.5 Research Questions

The following research questions were raised based on the background to the study.

1. Is there any difference between the academic performance of students from single-parent homes and intact homes?
2. How does the relationship between single parents and the children affect their academic performance and truancy behaviour
3. Is there any relationship between truancy behaviour of students from single parents and children of intact homes?

1.6 Scope of the Study

The studied is confined to the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly cape coast is the capital town of the Central Region of Ghana. The Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly was chosen by the researcher for this study due its proximity to the University of Cape Coast where the researcher is a student.

The selection was also influenced by fact that there are lots of secondary schools, both day and boarding, mixed and single sexed. Students from these institutions are coming from family structures which may be mono or bi- parenting and this will be a major source of data on effects of single-parenthood on the academic performance of secondary school students in Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly.

1.7 Research Hypothesis

The following hypotheses were tested with suitable statistical techniques at 0.05 level of significance.

Hypothesis 1. There is no significant difference between the academic performance of     adolescents from single-parenting homes and those from intact homes.

Hypothesis 2. There is no significant difference between the truancy behaviour of students from single-parenting homes and those from intact homes.

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