THE INFLUENCES OF BROKEN HOMES ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENT IN EGOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1    Background to the Study
The family is the child's first place of contact with the world. Children are socialized by parents and another person in the family.  According to Agulana (1999) family is the smallest unit of the society made up of people leaving in the same house. He further opined that the family lays the psychological, moral, and spiritual foundation in the overall development of the child.Alesina and Giuliano (2007) added that the family is one of the most important socio-economic institutions in the society, but the nature of the links between family members variesdramatically across nationalities.According to Bonnie (2001), family members share emotional and economic bonds. The child is morally upright andemotionally stable when the caring responsibilities are carried out by both parents. Thefamily is the first socializing agent the child comes in contact with. It has great influence onthe child’s physical, mental, and moral development. The family lays the foundation ofeducation before the child goes to school and the personality that the child takes to school isdetermined by the home. Salami (1998) opined that both parents have roles to play inchild education. The rolefather includes the provision of the necessary tools for the educational advancementwhile the mother is supposed to supplement the father’s efforts in this regard. When thefather is absent and the mother is not privileged enough to cater for all the basic needs as wellas supervise the academic performance of the child, he or she (the child) will be backward orWithdrawn. The same thing occurs when the mother is absent and the father is not privilegedenough (Ortese, 1998). A child receives better attention when both parents are constituting ahome. The study therefore examines the impact of broken home on academic performance of secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The rate at of broken homes today appears to be on the increase. Despite all theefforts the various governments, religious organizations, non-governmental organizations(NGOs) and marriage counselors are making to promote marital stability among couples in Nigeria and Benin in Edo State in particular, the issue of broken homes still exists in thecountry. Previous studies reveal that students from broken homes suffer emotional trauma,depression, negative self-concept and low self-esteem. In most cases, the adolescents from suchhomes manifest negative tendencies in school such as truancy, aggression, lack of concentration,examination malpractice, bullying, drug abuse, stealing and other vices. All these may lead topoor academic performance.Observation of academic records of the students in secondary schools in Benin Education Zonesuggests that most of the students from broken homes perform below average in their exams. Thisaffects their future career in life. It would therefore appear that single parents cannot meek upwith the academic demands of the students that will ensure academic achievement. Perhapsstudents from broken homes lack emotional support that guarantees academic achievement.
The question then arises, could this poor academic achievement of the students beattributed to the family set up of the students? Could it be that most of these academicallyincompetent students stem from broken homes? These are the questions this study will address.
1.3 Research Questions
This study will be guided by the following research questions.
1. What are the educational challenges faced by students from broken homes?
2. What are the emotional challenges faced by student from broken homes?
3. What are the social challenges faced by students from broken homes?
4. What are the influences of broken homes on academic performance ofsecondary school students?
1.4 Objective of the Study
The main objective of this study is to ascertain the impact of broken homes on academic performance of secondary school students in Egor Local Government area Educational Zone in Edo State,other specific objectives includes
1.    To ascertain the educational challenges faced by students from broken homes.
2.    To determine the emotional challenges  faced by students from broken homes
3.    To investigate the social challenges faced by the students from broken homes
4.    To determine the influence of broken homes on academic  performance of secondary school students
1.5 Research Hypothesis
    For the purpose of this study, the hypothesis below shall be tested;
There is no significant difference between broken homes and academic performance of students.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This study has both theoretical and practical significance. Theoretically, the studywill validate or disprove the tenets of moral absolutism. The study will provide a theoreticalframework that can be dependent upon when carrying out studies on broken homes andacademic achievement of students (learners).
Practically, the teachers, policy makers, curriculum developers and students will benefit from this research since the information from the findings will enable them inhandling vulnerable students from broken homes.Teachers, will benefit from the result of this study because it will provideinformation on the broken homes and academic performance of secondary school students schoolattendance to the teachers. This could be when this work is presented in the school duringworkshop. This information will guide the teachers in handing students from broken homes.
Policy makers will benefit from the result of this study because it will help them todetermine the impact of broken homes on the academic achievement of secondary schoolstudents when they read it on the net. This will help them in formulating appropriateeducational policies. This understanding will help policy makers determine the formulationof policies that will take care of the needs of students from broken homes.
Also, curriculum developers will benefit from the result of this study because it willhelp them in exploring the necessary measures to improve the academic achievement ofstudents from broken homes when they read this work in the library.
Also, this study will serve as a framework for future researchers in a similar field inorder to get better understanding of the problem at hand.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study in its contentscovers all the prevalence of broken homes among junior secondary in Benin, the challenges faced by student from broken homes, the influenceof broken homes on academic performance of secondary school students and it effect to school and their environment.